A Wild Week at Netflix: Stuber’s Out, WWE Is In, and Subs Are Up
Jan 29, 2024
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Discussion on the departure of Scott Stuber from Netflix's film group, Netflix's deal with WWE for Monday Night Raw, and the increase in subscriber growth. Speculation on Netflix's movie strategy, the impact of content industry strikes, and potential success of upcoming movies at the box office.
32:23
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Quick takeaways
Netflix's foray into live programming with a $5 billion deal for WWE's 'Raw' showcases the company's focus on engagement and expansion into new territories.
The departure of Scott Stuber, head of film at Netflix, signals a shift in the company's film strategy towards unique, audience-specific content without the need for theatrical distribution.
Deep dives
Netflix's Shift Towards Engagement and Sports
Netflix's recent moves, including the deal with WWE for Monday Night Raw and its focus on engagement and time spent on the platform, reflect a shift in the company's strategy. With the goal of keeping viewership high and selling ads, Netflix is entering the live sports entertainment space. The WWE deal offers 150 hours of programming per year and presents an opportunity for Netflix to tap into a loyal audience and expand overseas. This move highlights Netflix's focus on engagement and its willingness to venture into new territories to drive growth.
The Future of Netflix's Film Strategy
The departure of Scott Stuber, head of film at Netflix, suggests a potential shift in the company's film strategy. Stuber desired to make fewer, better movies and give them theatrical releases and marketing support. However, Netflix's leadership resisted this approach and instead focused on the strength of their platform and the ability to create unique content without the need for theatrical distribution. Moving forward, it is likely that Netflix will prioritize genres and types of movies that are not typically seen in traditional theaters, experimenting with lower budget and audience-specific films.
Netflix's Strong Performance and Future Challenges
Netflix's recent financial results have shown impressive growth, with 13 million new subscribers, good financials, and a profit margin of 20%. However, there are concerns about the future. The crackdown on password sharing has had a temporary boost on subscriber numbers, but it is uncertain how long this will continue. Additionally, as other legacy studios are willing to license more of their top content, Netflix may face challenges in securing exclusive content and could see a pullback in the number of movies it produces. These factors raise questions about Netflix's programming ambitions and the potential impact on its growth.
The Potential of Ads and the Competitive Landscape
Netflix's push into advertising raises questions about the effectiveness and potential of its ad-driven strategy. While streaming service ads have potential, the overall ad market may be somewhat depressed. Competitors like Amazon Prime Video are also entering the ad space, and the success of ads on Netflix remains to be seen. However, streaming services still offer a significant opportunity to capture TV ad spend, provided they can successfully attract and retain a substantial number of subscribers to their ad-supported tiers.
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss film chief Scott Stuber’s exit from Netflix and what it means for the streamer's movie arm, Netflix’s foray into live programming with a $5 billion deal for WWE's 'Raw,' and its latest earnings report, which saw a big boost in subscriber growth. Matt, Lucas, and producer Craig finish the show by adding a new wrinkle to the 2024 box office draft.
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