The future of Netflix

For the first time in a decade, Netflix lost subscribers. The loss, reported mid-April, was jaw-dropping -- with *many* more losses to come. The stock lost more than a full third of its value

For the first time in a decade, Netflix lost subscribers. The loss, reported mid-April, was jaw-dropping -- with *many* more losses to come. The stock lost more than a full third of its value

But it ended up losing fewer users than expected from April to June. And it said it will go back to adding subscribers in the third quarter. Its stock surged on the news

Netflix says its downturn is because of password sharing, market saturation, and competition

Fortune says it’s because Netflix is losing ground to its big tech brethren. Netflix never diversified its business

But CNN says Netflix isn’t a Big Tech company and never really was. Netflix’s losses this year aren’t a sign it’s failing. Rather, it’s finding its way as a media company. Think Disney, not Google

Elon Musk says it’s because of the “woke mind virus”. He calls it “unwatchable”

New York Magazine says it’s because Netflix lost its way. It’s more expensive than the competition and feels just as bloated as cable. Both have way too much bad TV

Whatever the reason, Fortune reports that Netflix’s leadership has gone through a “culture shift” after all the bad news. They’re now governed by fear

Ok, so how does Netflix turn things around? One option is to raise prices. Netflix did just that in January

Another is to go after password freeloaders. Starting early 2023, CNET says it’ll start “cracking down” on password sharing

It’s also rolling out a low-priced plan with ads. The Motley Fool gives the move a thumb’s up

Adding sports could help too, writes Deadline. Amazon and Apple TV have already gone that way with success

Bloomberg Thinks Netflix Needs New International Subscribers. But So Far, It’s Struggled to Break into India

And The Atlantic says Netflix is trying to ride out the downturn by going even bigger with expensive blockbusters

Well, what about ditching the binge watch? The WSJ reports that Netflix tried an experiment with Stranger Things S4 -- it held back the final two episodes for weeks after the rest of the episodes dropped. Verdict is still out

Netflix is also experimenting with gaming. It plans to have 50 games available to users by the end of the year. But CNBC reports that few of its users are playing

up next...