Netflix blew past the 100 million subscriber mark, thus exceeding the American ones at international level: the number of users of the platform in the United States, indeed, has increased by one million units compared to last quarter, while the non-domestic ones by four million. The release of successful TV series in the last months was the main driving force, such as 13 Reasons Why and the new seasons of Orange is the New Black and House of Cards.
The total revenue of the streaming service is 2,75 billion dollars, while the operating income is quoted at 128 million euros. The forecasts for the third quarter of 2017 are optimistic: the total revenue is estimated at 2,96 billion dollars and an increase in the number of subscribers up to 108,36 million.
Netflix was not free from controversy in 2017: besides the cancellation of series such as Sense 8 and The Get Down that brought protests from fans (and brought Netflix to produce a film to conclude the Wachowski sisters series Sense 8), the streaming platform was the focus of a dispute during the Cannes Festival about two Netflix original movies participating in the competition (Okja by Bong Joon-ho and The Meyerowitz Stories by Noah Baumbach): these films will not be distributed to theatres, as is current practice for movies vying for the Palme D’Or. The controversy brought the Festival to follow the rules for the future editions, but even the Venice Festival has a Netflix film participating in the competition this year: Our Souls at Night, directed by Ritesh Batra and produced by Robert Redford. The Los Gatos company release a disclosure: “We understand that our approach to films is counter to Hollywood’s century-old windowing tradition. But just as we reinvented the TV business, we believe that our model can reinvigorate the film business”.
Netflix, over 100 million subscribers. “Our model can reinvigorate the film business”.
