Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has recently admitted that he regrets a comment he made in 2012, where he compared Netflix to HBO. He clarified that his intention was not to solely focus on high-end prestige programming, but rather to be like HBO, CBS, BBC and other networks that entertain people around the world. Sarandos emphasized the importance of providing a broad variety of content to cater to the interests of viewers globally.
According to Sarandos, Netflix’s approach involves programming for around 650 million people worldwide, offering content that appeals to a diverse audience. The platform continues to experiment with new content formats such as live television events like The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady and broadcasting NFL Christmas Day games. However, Sarandos made it clear that Netflix has no plans to venture into live newscasting. He believes that there are already numerous outlets available for breaking news coverage, and viewers do not look to Netflix for that type of content.
Sarandos also touched on the significance of the platform’s algorithm in determining the success of shows like Baby Reindeer, stating that he believes popular movies like Barbie and Oppenheimer would have performed equally well on Netflix as they did at the box office. This consumer-focused approach to content curation reflects Netflix’s commitment to providing a wide range of entertainment options that cater to diverse viewer preferences.
In summary, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has acknowledged his mistake in comparing Netflix to HBO in 2012 and clarified that his aim is to provide entertainment options for a global audience with diverse interests. He emphasizes the importance of offering a broad variety of content while continuing to experiment with new formats such as live television events. Furthermore, he highlights the significance of an algorithm in determining show success and reaffirms Netflix’s commitment to providing entertainment options for all viewer preferences.
