Netflix’s Asian Takeover: 17 New Showsy Plans and a Whole Lot of Drama
During a breezy showcase in Singapore, Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos dropped a bomb: 17 more original productions head‑lined for Asia. The streaming titan’s mission? Inflate glob‑wide subscriber numbers while keeping the competition guessing.
Why the Buzz? (Because the Numbers Say So!)
- Netflix just smashed its quarterly earnings target, thanks to a big boost in international subscribers—the real money‑making heroes outside the U.S.
- The company plans to shell out $8 billion (S$10.9 billion) on new content this year, with $6.9 billion already spent as of Q3 end.
- India, that bustling tech‑savvy middle‑class playground, is a key player. It’s seen Netflix fans swooning over blockbuster hits like “Baahubali.”
- CEO Reed Hastings even floated the idea that India could pull in the next 100 million subscribers.
Lights, Camera, Controversy!
Not all is smooth sailing. Netflix recently launched a high‑octane Mumbai crime thriller, but the studio’s glistening surface has been marred by a few controversies:
- A lawsuit swirls around comments made about a former prime minister.
- Two of its most loved shows rattled by actor accusations of sexual misconduct—claims the cast has denied, but the headlines keep flickering.
With 137 million subscribers worldwide as of September 30, Netflix is fishing for a larger fish now it has only three years of original film stocking experience. The next chapter promises big stories, higher stakes, and maybe a little more lint.
