Netflix’s Subscriber Surge, Tesla Earnings, and Guest James Bennet
Jan 26, 2024
01:11:20
auto_awesome Snipd AI
Essayist James Bennet joins Kara and Scott to discuss his recent essay, 'When The New York Times Lost Its Way'. They also cover topics such as Netflix's surge in subscribers, Tesla's earnings, and Microsoft hitting three trillion in market cap.
Read more
AI Summary
Highlights
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Netflix's impressive growth is attributed to its vast content library and loyal subscribers.
Journalists should actively seek out diverse viewpoints to foster meaningful debates and avoid being trapped in a bubble.
The media landscape faces challenges in presenting a range of viewpoints and values, with implications for open debate and societal division.
Deep dives
Netflix's Strong Q4 Performance: Record Subscribers and Revenue
Netflix added 13 million new subscribers in Q4, bringing the total paid subscribers to over 260 million, a new record for the service. Revenue in Q4 grew 12% year over year to $8.83 billion. This strong performance is credited to their vast content library and the loyalty of their subscribers. Additionally, Netflix announced a $5 billion deal with WWE to stream their flagship wrestling show. The company continues to dominate the streaming industry with its impressive growth and financial success.
James Bennett Discusses Bias and Bubble in The New York Times
James Bennett, former opinion editor of The New York Times, reflects on the criticism he faced during his tenure and the perceived bias within the publication. He points out that many journalists at The Times are caught in a bubble, surrounded by like-minded individuals and disconnected from the experiences and perspectives of everyday Americans. Bennett suggests that in order to address this, journalists should actively seek out diverse viewpoints and have a clearer understanding of the role their institution plays in fostering meaningful and wide-ranging debates.
Challenges of Opinion Journalism and Balancing Viewpoints
Opinion journalism faces numerous challenges in today's media landscape. While some publications, like Politico, The Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg, strive to present a range of perspectives, James Bennett argues that nobody is currently doing it exceptionally well. Bennett believes that the media landscape is splintering, allowing individuals with varying viewpoints to publish their ideas, but also creating an environment in which people seek out media that aligns with their own beliefs. Balancing a diversity of opinions, promoting open debate, and establishing clear values within news organizations are all key factors in addressing these challenges.
The Rise of Pro-Palestine Content on TikTok
TikTok has become a prominent platform for pro-Palestine content, with a ratio of 54 to 1 for pro-Palestinian videos compared to pro-Israel videos. This suggests that an external force, potentially the CCP, is influencing content on the platform to further divide society.
The Manipulation of Media and Division
There is growing evidence that the CCP is utilizing propaganda tactics to divide America internally. Unable to compete militarily or economically, the CCP may be attempting to create division through platforms like TikTok, serving content that amplifies divides and fuels tension among different groups.
Kara and Scott are back with you to discuss Oscar nominations, Jon Stewart’s return to The Daily Show, and Trump’s win in New Hampshire. Also, Netflix’s jump in subscribers, Tesla’s underwhelming earnings, and a Microsoft hits three trillion. Then they’re joined by Friend of Pivot, James Bennet, to discuss his recent essay, “When The New York Times Lost Its Way.”