TedSarandos
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Netflix's shows didn't pull in as many new customers as expected
Netflix is spending billions of dollars on new shows and movies this year, with an expectation that this will add to its subscriber base. Unfortunately, over the last three months, that plan didn't work quite as well as it had predicted. In April the company notched 125 million subscribers and predicted it would add 6.2 million more. Today it announced numbers (PDF) that CEO Reed Hastings called "strong but not stellar" growing by 5.15 million customers worldwide with about 670,000 of in the US compared to the 1.2 million it anticipated. Even that number isn't too shabby, since last year during the same period it added 5.2 million people to pass the 100 million subscriber mark. The letter did highlight all of those Emmy nominations, which show that it has delivered quality along with the quantity, plus much of the highly-anticipated content that has yet to debut in 2018. What it didn't go into was any note of the "Ultra" price testing users recently spotted in Europe, or the public response to possible feature restrictions and higher prices. Netflix will stream a video of its earnings call at 6 PM ET on YouTube, and if we hear any interesting answers to those questions or others then we will update this post. Update: The video call is live (embedded after the break), and begins with execs saying the "fundamentals have never been stronger" citing the forecasting as incorrect this time more than any factor slowing growth.
Christopher Nolan apologizes for trash-talking Netflix
Film director Christopher Nolan made no secret of his disdain for Netflix's business model over the summer, when he gave an interview calling the streaming service's "bizarre aversion" to supporting theatrical releases "mindless" and "untenable". Now, he tells Variety that he sent a personal email to Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandos, apologizing for his comments.
Netflix wants another 'Gilmore Girls' season
Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino already knew what the last four words of the show would be when it started shooting in 2000. Sixteen years later, those lines were finally delivered last year in Netflix's mini-series revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (spoilers via Entertainment Weekly). The finale brought closure to the long-standing mystery, but also left room for the show to continue. Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandos told the UK's Press Association he wants more of the Gilmores, so this just might happen.
Netflix ponders offline playback
Remember when Netflix said it wouldn't deliver an offline playback option because its users are never far away from a reliable internet connection? Turns out that might not be true anymore. In an interview with CNBC, Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos conceded that as the streaming giant continues its expansion into new (developing) markets, it needs to adapt its service to better serve customers who don't always have the appropriate internet access to enjoy its content.
Netflix execs talk 'Ridiculous 6' popularity, censorship
In their first Q&A session since launching a (nearly) global internet TV network, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and content head Ted Sarandos sounded appropriately pleased with themselves. Sarandos said the recent debut of Adam Sandler's Ridiculous 6 made it the "most-watched movie in Netflix's history" over the first 30 days. Previously he'd said Beasts of No Nation was the service's most-watched movie in its first week of release and that it had over 3 million views in North America after two weekends, but he did not provide any numbers for Sandler's movie. Most of the questions focused on what content would be available worldwide, and from them, it's clear that Netflix is not only operating differently from most others in the TV business but also sees its opportunities in a different way. While Sarandos called movie windowing "managed dissatisfaction," Hastings presented a goal of global availability. But Netflix has to operate under preexisting restrictions for now.
Netflix and the Duplass brothers are working on four new movies
Last year at the Sundance Film Festival Mark Duplass implored indie filmmakers to "get their goddamn movies on Netflix" and this year, it's clear he'll be doing more of that. At this year's festival, Netflix announced it has a four-picture deal with Mark (The League) and Jay Duplass (Transparent) to make their small-budget films. The two parties have had a relationship ever since Netflix bought The Puffy Chair from the brothers ten years ago. The brothers have produced a slew of indie flicks ever since, and their show Togetherness is airing on HBO. Unlike Netflix's Crouching Tiger and Adam Sandler movie deals, Deadline reports these will premiere in theaters before they go to streaming shortly after. There's no word on what the movies are, but fans of flicks like The Do-Deca-Pentathlon, Safety Not Guaranteed and The Skeleton Twins should have an idea of what to expect. [Image credit: Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for Sundance]
Netflix's European tour comes to an end in Belgium and Luxembourg
This week began with Netflix launching streaming video service in France, and since then it's added Germany, Austria and Switzerland to the list. Belgium and Luxembourg are the final two on the list this fall, putting them among the 40 or so countries where Netflix now offers its services. CEO Reed Hastings (pictured above at the launch event in Berlin) called out the " incredible viewer enthusiasm" for the service's original series, including the ones coming to Europe for the first time like Orange is the New Black and Bojack Horseman. Upcoming Netflix series will remain exclusive to the service as well -- some of the existing ones like House of Cards are tied up in exclusivity deals with other broadcasters for now. Netflix is also the only place to (legally) watch a few other shows like From Dusk Till Dawn, Fargo and Penny Dreadful. No matter what country you're in, if you're looking for the something to watch we have a few suggestions on how to find it. If you just want the exclusives though, a recent tweak to the website means you can just search for "Netflix" and they will appear.
Netflix queues S1 of its original production 'Lilyhammer' for streaming February 6th
While Netflix has already announced original productions like House of Cards and a new season of Arrested Development it has commissioned for its streaming video service, the first to debut will be Lilyhammer next month. Starring Steve Van Zandt of the E Street Band and The Sopranos, it follows a mobster in witness protection who moves to Lillehammer, Norway, chasing dreams of clean air and gorgeous women. Naturally, it doesn't quite work out like that, but in an interesting twist Netflix will let you find out how it does work out all in one shot. Unlike most linear channels, and even Hulu's original programming efforts like The Confession, Netflix will post the entire season all at once (and in all of its territories -- US, Canada and Latin America) just like it does with older material. Of course, Netflix has a lot of ground to make up after its missteps last year, so perhaps extending its usual policy customers watch video when, where and how they want to content release timing is just the kind of bonus needed. Until it's available however, we'll have to live with the press release and trailer, both of which are included after the break.
