With nearly 150 million subscribers around the world, Netflix has a commanding lead in the streaming wars. But it’s also facing heavy competition from deep-pocketed conglomerates like Disney, Apple, and AT&T, and an ongoing wave of narrow, targeted streaming sites like CBS All Access and DC Universe, which can draw on popular existing franchises for original content. As fewer companies are willing to license out their films and shows to other streaming sites, Netflix is pouring billions of dollars annually into its own original content. Follow along with The Verge as we look at Netflix’s new films and shows, its evolving strategies against new entrants in the market, and how it’s leveraging its technological and marketing lead.
That’s not quite how J.R.R. Tolkien started The Hobbit, but that’ll be how it goes when hobbit life simulator Tales of The Shire arrives exclusively on mobile via Netflix. Netflix also announced a ton more games joining the service this month and beyond including several games based on Netflix shows, The Case of the Golden Idol, and Don’t Starve Together.
Here’s your reminder that Lost, one of the biggest shows of the aughts, is returning to Netflix in the US on July 1st.
I’ll admit that I never finished the series. But I remember Hurley, a polar bear, and that people who aren’t The Verge’s Jay Peters were grumpy about the ending.
The actor will take over the role of Geralt from Henry Cavill starting with season 4.
Netflix is gearing up for the finale of its post-apocalyptic series Sweet Tooth, and the first season 3 trailer reveals that fans can finally expect some answers to the show’s big questions. It starts streaming on June 6th.
Ultraman: Rising’s first teaser gave us a glimpse of the big man’s adoptive kaiju daughter, and framed their relationship as somewhat uneasy. But the movie’s latest trailer makes Ken Sato (Christopher Sean) seem like one hell of a dad who’s going to fight the world for his kid this June.
Variety reports that Max has cancelled the gorgeous sci-fi series after one season, but there’s hope: not only will the show start streaming on Netflix on May 31st, but the streamer is reportedly considering giving it a second season, as well.
Every week in May, Netflix will release a new game starting today with Sonic Mania Plus. On May 14th go back in time with Braid, Anniversary Edition which includes a brand-new Netflix exclusive level. Paper Trail comes the week after on May 21st and finally Netflix’s own choose-your-own romance game, Virgin River launches May 29th. Katana Zero is also coming in May with a release date coming soon.
[Netflix]
Netflix is really making a meal out of the sixth and final season of Cobra Kai, which will total 15 episodes split into three parts. The first is out July 18th, followed by part two on November 28th. But for the “Finale Event” fans will have to wait until 2025.
30 years after the tragic death of Brazilion F1 great Ayrton Senna, Netflix released a first look at its upcoming series based on his life.
Post-Drive to Survive and ahead of this weekend’s Miami GP, it’s clear how much F1’s popularity has grown since the Senna documentary in 2010, bringing in new fans who can learn about his story.
Hollywood is always chock full of writers trying to sell networks on scripts for brand new franchises. But! Netflix has reportedly just outbid a number of other studios in “a competitive situation” to produce another live-action Scooby Doo adaptation that people are absolutely, definitely going to be excited about.
Futurism spotted what looks to be AI photo shenanigans in Netflix’s What Jennifer Did, a true crime documentary detailing a murder-for-hire plot. The possible AI-generated images appeared in scenes describing the subject, Jennifer Pan’s personality. Futurism rightly points out that fake AI images in a true crime documentary are controversial, at the least.
Co-CEO Greg Peters says the streamer doesn’t have a “set position” on a ceiling for its subscription pricing:
You can look at pay TV as a potential markers for where people have spent before but we really actually don’t think of it so much is defined by that... As we add more entertainment value, then of course we can go back to our subscribers and ask them to pay a little bit more to keep that virtuous cycle moving.
Today’s episode of Decoder is all about Disney, the massive activist investor revolt it just fought off, and what happens next in the world of streaming. Earlier this month, Disney survived an attempted board takeover from businessman Nelson Peltz. While investors overwhelmingly sided with Disney and CEO Bob Iger, the boardroom showdown made something very clear: Disney needs to figure out streaming and get its creative direction back on track.
To help me better understand what’s happening here, I brought on my friend Julia Alexander, who is VP of strategy at Parrot Analytics, a Puck News news contributor, and, most importantly, a former Verge reporter. She’s a leading expert on all things Disney, and I always learn something important about the state of the entertainment business when I talk to her.