In this candid deep dive, I sit down with Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos to unpack the company’s remarkable journey from a DVD-by-mail service to a global streaming giant. We revisit Netflix's early battle with Blockbuster, the bold pivot to streaming, the company’s plans for India, and how they cracked the code on turning binge-watching into a universal habit.What was interesting for me was how he spots the next phenomenon before the world catches on. For anyone in media, tech, or entrepreneurship, here’s a masterclass in building and scaling in the entertainment space, and a reminder that you don’t always need a long story, just the right one.
#NikhilKamath - Investor & EntrepreneurTwitter: https://x.com/nikhilkamathcioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilkamathcio/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhilkamathcio/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikhilkamathcio/ #TedSarandos - Co-CEO, NetflixLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedsarandos/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tedsarandos
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:32 - Ted’s favourite Indian creator
02:15 - Netflix’s journey, pivots & vision08:34 - Netflix’s hiring culture
11:52 - Ted’s journalism roots14:06 - Ted’s childhood & relationship with money
16:39 - Rapid fire & banter
18:17 - How much of the world is narrative?
19:52 - Competing with Blockbuster
25:13 - Content choices, projections & finding tribes
28:05 - What defines success for Netflix
33:56 - How to best serve your story?
37:15 - Career advice & work cultures in India vs. US
41:02 - Will Netflix produce theatrical movies?
42:20 - Future of the theatre business
45:30 - The next big disruption
47:40 - Can AI create movies?
51:42 - Netflix’s tech & what it’s doing right
57:38 - Competing with other distributors
1:02:39 - Netflix’s streaming strategy
1:03:44 - What happens to conventional TV?
1:05:01 - Why people love true crime
1:06:11 - Why Netflix isn’t betting on live sports broadcasting
1:10:24 - India’s subscription model: why it’s a tough sell
1:13:29 - Will Netflix have an ads-only model?
1:16:58 - Married life
1:18:43 - How important is India for Netflix?
1:21:57 - Adapting to country-specific dynamics
1:24:28 - How Netflix greenlights projects
1:24:53 - A founder’s baggage: filling big shoes
1:28:17 - Validation & leadership
1:32:11 - Indian personality who left a lasting impression on Ted
1:34:11 - Ted’s secret to greenlighting hits
1:41:36 - How diversity contributes to Netflix’s success
1:42:42 - Can Netflix be global & local in India?
1:44:47 - Hollywood vs. Netflix
1:45:49 - Netflix’s role in podcasting’s future
1:47:16 - Youth & attention span
1:48:44 - Netflix’s future in gaming
1:51:56 - Closing thoughts
Watch 'WTF is' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4nsm4eznWatch 'People by WTF' Podcast on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/yme92c59Watch 'WTF Online' on Spotify https://tinyurl.com/4tjua4th#WTFiswithnikhilkamath #PeopleByWTF #WTFOnline
