Netflix CEO Hopes 'Self-Absorbed' Americans Won't Notice Discount

Netflix CEO: 'Self-Absorbed' Americans Won't Notice Canadian Price Discount

See update belowNetflix has been having some PR problems.

Yesterday, it took heat for a botched publicity stunt--the company had hired actors to pose as fans at its Canada launch--and today, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings shared a bit too much with The Hollywood Reporter.

The Hollywood Reporter asked Hastings whether he was "concerned that American Netflix subscribers will look north and ask for the same discount Canadians get at $7.99?"

Hastings' reply (with a dig at Americans): "How much has it been your experience that Americans follow what happens in the world? It's something we'll monitor, but Americans are somewhat self-absorbed."

Hastings was born in Boston, Massachusetts.

Read the full interview here.

UPDATE: Hastings has apologized in a short statement posted to the Netflix blog. It reads:

My Big American Foot is in my mouth. Yesterday, I made an awkward joke with a reporter in Toronto about Americans (like me) being self-absorbed relative to Netflix pricing in Canada. I was wrong to have made the joke, and I do not believe that one of the most philanthropically-minded nations in the world (America) is self-absorbed or full of self-absorbed people. The pricing Netflix is offering in Canada, $7.99 per month, does not include any DVD-by-mail option, and that is why it is cheaper than our $8.99 USA plan which has both DVD-by-mail and streaming in one plan. We are looking at adding a streaming-only option for the USA over the coming months. My apologies to anyone offended by my self-absorbed comment. Sincerely, -Reed

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