Skylake and current AMD platforms don't support it at 10bit 4k, which is the new standard they're talking about. I don't think there's any funny business going on. If anything, it'll be about them feeling secure that this combination provides a strong DRM protection.
They shouldn't feel anything, but think before deciding something like this.
The decision is an obvious countereffect path.
Will someone invest into new CPU architecture just to watch Netflix' 4K streams? No. Instead they'll just wait till the stream is pirated and then watch it over pirated stream or download from some rapidshare clone. Instead of preventing piracy this decision will just make bigger numbers of pirated "copies".
There is another gigantic pile of shit problem here as GG suggested, and it's - exclusivity.
PC is a platform where it's user chooses between manufacturers. There is ongoing competition on all existing PC parts, thanks to that the industry is pushing forward like crazy, if there was a monopol we'd still be using (good old though) WooDoo or TNT2 with Cyrix CPU.
In a few months AMD's Zen CPUs will be out, why would anyone in their right mind, assuming Zen is a sort of musthave for that one, why would anyone just because of Netflix' bullshit ditch Zen and buy Kaby Lake?
Edge over other browsers is IMO also not okay but is still borderline acceptable as edge is built-in browser in win10 so a user can take it as just a 4K stream service and use another browser for other stuff. Besides, edge is not hardware so noone says updated Chrome, Firefox or Opera will also become another possibility in near future.
I'm sick and tired of pushing phone/console corporate control on user's choices on PC. I'll buy what I want, I'll use what I want and not something companies insist on. I won't go pirate 4K as I don't care for it, but also won't shed a tear for money lost by Netflix just because of the bullshit decision based on not understanding the platform.
A linked example. India. Censorship. Dragon Age Inquisition banned. Wrote before. The stupid government forbids legal selling of a videogame just because, if I was living in that country I'd become the biggest pirate ever and sell illicit copies of DA:I and become a millionaire. What could happen to me except another thing India is known for - mass rape?
It's both loss for EA and for that country taxes? Why should I care? Their problem. By their idiotic moves they encourage piracy themselves. It's like they don't want $. If they don't want it, I sure do.