Netflix anticipates its programming schedule to return to near-normal conditions in 2025, following disruptions in 2024 due to the Hollywood strikes. During Netflix’s third-quarter earnings call, co-CEO Ted Sarandos mentioned that the company's 2024 lineup was “patchier than normal” because of the work stoppage affecting production schedules.
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| Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos JC Olivera/Getty Images |
Sarandos highlighted that several popular shows, such as Cobra Kai and Emily in Paris, along with newer series like Perfect Couple and Nobody Wants This, were originally intended to air much earlier in 2024 but experienced delays due to the strikes.
“The first half of this year, our lineup was much lumpier than we liked and that was primarily because of the work stoppage,” Sarandos explained. He noted that while the strike hit regions like the U.S., Canada, and Australia the hardest, its impact was felt in production activities worldwide.
He also emphasized that Netflix is now gradually approaching a “more normalized output schedule,” with television series showing more progress than films, though neither area has fully recovered yet. This disruption has affected Netflix’s broader goal of maintaining a consistent flow of content for its viewers.
“Our aim here is to always have a very steady drum beat of great new TV shows and films and games for our members to watch throughout the year,” Sarandos stated. “A drum beat so steady that when you’re watching the last episode of whatever you’re watching, you start expecting the next thing to be great, too.”
Adding to these challenges, Netflix also experienced a transition in leadership within its film division, with Dan Lin stepping in as head of film after Scott Stuber’s departure. Sarandos mentioned that this shift contributed to a change in the “cadence of release,” further affecting the company's content delivery rhythm.
Despite these setbacks, Netflix still managed to add 5 million new subscribers in the latest quarter and reported “healthy engagement,” with an average of around two hours of viewing per day per paid membership. The company also experienced significant year-over-year growth in its financials, with revenue reaching $9.83 billion and operating income increasing to $2.91 billion.
Looking ahead, Sarandos teased a “strong” slate for the fourth quarter, including titles like the action film Carry-On, The Piano Lesson, and Emilia Pérez. For 2025, when Netflix expects to be “largely back to normal,” the lineup promises even more exciting releases, including a new Knives Out movie, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, and The Electric State, a new film from the Russo brothers starring Millie Bobby Brown.
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