It's not about them being the only one, but it is about being the market leader. And with exclusive content, there actually "can be only one."
I believe in a mature paid-streaming market, consumers will likely subscribe to multiple services, all for way cheaper than satellite or cable currently costs.
I am going to edit my top level post and add the quote now that I am in front of a laptop.
"I believe in a mature paid-streaming market, consumers will likely subscribe to multiple services, all for way cheaper than satellite or cable currently costs."
Agreed and that's kind of my point - HBO and Netflix can both win big here, it's not really about who can do both content and provision first. If you follow the exclusive content model there can be only one place to watch Game of Thrones or House of Cards but people can (and I think will) subscribe to many services.
There may also be models where exclusivity isn't a given (as it isn't with music services) or that it will just be about content and that streaming will become a commodity, though they're harder to predict (and go against what has historically happened in TV).
I believe in a mature paid-streaming market, consumers will likely subscribe to multiple services, all for way cheaper than satellite or cable currently costs.
I am going to edit my top level post and add the quote now that I am in front of a laptop.