Co-CEO says Netflix ‘not growing as fast as I want’

Ted Sarandos, co-chief executive officer of Netflix, during the Bloomberg Screentime event in Los Angeles, on Sept 30.

LOS ANGELES – Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos said that the streaming giant’s growth fell below expectations, adding that live shows could provide a welcome boost.

Netflix posted a growth rate of 13.4% between April and June – the lowest in nearly three years – and saw a modest 2% rise in viewing hours in the first half of 2026.

“Overall, we’re not growing as fast as I want us to,” Sarandos said on Sept 30 during the annual Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles.

Live programming could “move the needle quite a bit on that number”, the co-CEO added.

The production of live shows takes up 5% of Netflix’s annual US$20 billion (S$25.6 billion) content budget and generates just 1% of viewing – but Sarandos said “they do a very different job”.

“They generate a lot of sign-ups. They’re really effective for signup retention, advertising,” he said.

Films and television series will remain Netflix’s priority because “we are in the professionally produced content business”, the co-CEO said.

Asked about Netflix’s attempt to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, Sarandos said he went into and came out of the negotiations with no regrets, saying the plan was “solid”.

Netflix had joined the bidding for control of a stable of assets that includes Warner Bros. Pictures, CNN and the HBO Max streaming service, but lost to an offer from Paramount Skydance.

A US federal judge approved a settlement on Sept 30 that clears the way for the takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount. AFP