Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, met with Donald Trump in December on the then-President-elect’s Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida. However in line with Sarandos, the 2 didn’t “discuss store.”
Sarandos, talking Friday on the Paley Heart for Media in New York Metropolis, stated it was the primary time he met Trump. “We had a pleasant lengthy dinner collectively,” he stated.
Requested by interviewer Ben Smith, editor in chief of Semafor, whether or not Trump tried to promote Sarandos on the documentary that includes his third spouse, Melania — the rights to which have been acquired by Amazon — Sarandos stated, no, Trump didn’t. Is Trump a fan of Netflix? “He stated Melania and [son] Barron have been huge followers,” Sarandos stated.
In the meantime, Smith continued, did Amazon “overpay” for the Melania doc? (Amazon is reportedly shelling out $40 million for the movie and docu-series in regards to the First Girl.) Sarandos stated he didn’t know. “I haven’t seen it,” the Netflix chief stated.
The dialog with Sarandos got here a day after the exit of Amazon MGM Studios head Jennifer Salke. Smith requested the Netflix exec “what’s going incorrect” at Amazon. Sarandos responded, “I actually don’t pay that a lot consideration to them.” He added, “I don’t imply to be pejorative or snotty about it” — in line with Sarandos, he’s too busy with every thing happening at Netflix to intently observe rivals. He stated he tells his group, “In case you are trying over your shoulder [at a competitor] you’re going to journey.”
Requested whether or not Netflix is shifting its content material technique with Trump’s second time period, Sarandos stated it’s not: “We’ll program precisely the identical.” Relating to “The Apprentice,” the film about Trump’s early years as an actual property tycoon in New York that many distributors handed on, Sarandos stated, “I believed it was an excellent film, however there are 10,000 films submitted to Sundance yearly.” The choice about whether or not to amass a venture, he stated, is “actually price relative to viewers.”
At one other level within the dialogue, Sarandos stated he continues to face by his determination to work with comic Dave Chappelle, who was criticized for his anti-trans feedback in his Netflix stand-up particular “The Nearer” — an argument that included a walkout by the corporate’s personal staff. He additionally defended Netflix’s determination to order three specials from Tony Hinchcliffe, the comic whose poorly obtained joke about Puerto Ricans at Trump rally final fall ignited a media firestorm.
“There are by no means simple calls. But it surely’s rooted in rules of free speech and free expression,” Sarandos stated.
He in contrast Chappelle to boundary-pushing comedians Lenny Bruce, George Carlin and Richard Pryor. “He’s clearly in that class… one of the best who’ve ever achieved this job,” Sarandos stated. “There’s no denying he’s one of many biggest comedians of our time.”
In response to Sarandos, stand-up comedians want “a protected place to attempt issues out” and stated it’s an “artwork kind that’s outlined by the viewers.” Stated the exec: “You may’t say, ‘That’s not humorous’ if 18,000 folks snort at it. You may say it offends you, it hurts you, however you may’t say it’s not humorous.”
Sarandos has labored at Netflix for 25 years — in actual fact, he famous that the anniversary date of his becoming a member of the corporate was March 27.
Through the wide-ranging convo, Sarandos coated acquainted floor. He repeated that Netflix isn’t all for full-season sports activities rights — however he’s bullish on particular occasions just like the NFL Christmas Day video games that streamed worldwide — and reiterated that he doesn’t need to be Disney CEO. Sarandos additionally spoke about Netflix’s transition from DVD to streaming, recalling that at one level high executives stopped inviting the DVD group to firm conferences.
As well as, Sarandos stated that he if needed to do it over once more, he would do a deal for the movie “Emilia Pérez,” whose star, Karla Sofía Gascón, drew fireplace over her previous racist and offensive tweets. He known as the movie “visually beautiful” and “daring” — “all of the belongings you need a film to be.”
Netflix is on the high of its sport as of late. For This autumn of 2024, Netflix turned in boffo outcomes, leading to a number of Wall Avenue analyst upgrades on the inventory and main one to opine, “That is what profitable appears like.”
The corporate gained 18.9 million web new international subscribers, round double analyst expectations, to achieve 301.6 million. It additionally introduced value hikes within the U.S. and different key markets, together with on its ad-supported entry-level tier, demonstrating its pricing energy. Netflix raised its 2025 outlook for income to be between $43.5 billion and $44.5 billion (up $500 million from its prior forecast) and focused an working margin of 29%, up one share level from the prior forecast.
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