Four Dates for Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) Investors to Watch This Summer

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is going to have a busy summer. There will be a few interesting dates for investors to watch out for next month. New shows are coming. Old shows are leaving. There’s also the theatrical debut of a very important movie, and we have what should be one of the most important quarterly reports in the company’s history.

No pressure, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX). No pressure.

Let’s go over four dates in July that may move Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) stock.

July 1
Content goes both ways at Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX). The shows going out never make as much noise as shows being added to the service’s growing digital catalog, but licensing deals for shows and movies all have expiration dates on Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX). The dot-com darling simply has to pick what’s worth paying to keep arounjd.

Families with young children found that out the hard way last month, when Viacom, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAB)‘s Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. content was retired from Netflix’s streaming library. Kids said bon voyage to SpongeBob SquarePants and adios to Dora the Explorer.

There were also a few of Viacom, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAB)’s MTV and Comedy Central shows that went away, but the real hit to Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)came from the departure of the popular Nick programming for kids.

Well, come next month adults will get a taste as Downton Abbey goes away.

Netflix’s streaming rights end on July 1. In a shrewd coincidence, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) has picked up streaming rights for both Viacom, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAB)’s content and the popular BBC series.

It there’s an outcry about the end of Downton Abbey on Netflix, you can bet that Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) will be a beneficiary. That’s not the kind of attention that Netflix is seeking.

July 11
Thankfully Netflix isn’t just losing content.

A smart strategic move by the company has been the push to bankroll deals for original or exclusive first-run content.

After the success of House of Cards in February and Arrested Development last month, don’t be surprised if buzz builds for Orange is the New Black.

The show centering around a prison for women is the handiwork of Weeds creator Jenji Kohan.

Sure, Netflix hasn’t exactly hit it out of the park in terms of mass appeal with Lilyhammer and Hemlock Grove, but every show is an opportunity for Netflix to remind subscribers why they should stick around. The Orange is the New Black trailer is also far more compelling than the subject matter, so don’t be surprised if it’s the first sleeper hit for the service when it rolls out on July 11.