Netflix has announced a significant increase in subscribers, with 19 million more joining in the fourth quarter of 2024, largely attributed to its expanded live sports content.
The streaming behemoth surpassed the 300 million paid subscriber mark after incorporating live sports into its offerings in 2024, including boxing, NFL, and WWE events, as reported by .
It also secured media rights for the upcoming two Fifa Women’s World Cups, projecting revenues between £35.3 billion and £36 billion for 2025.
The company expressed satisfaction with its Q4 performance, highlighting that "Our Q4 slate outperformed even our high expectations," and noting the record-breaking viewership for the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight and two NFL games on Christmas Day.
James Venn, Group Director of Fuse, remarked on the strategic move: "Advances in streaming technology have allowed Netflix to carefully enter live sports, prioritising key events with massive viewership potential. These moments, or ‘not-to-be-missed’ cultural phenomena, attract audiences at scale."
He further explained the revenue implications: "Netflix’s live events create major revenue opportunities through its 2022 advertising model and its ability to drive subscription growth. Advertisers follow audiences and benefit from Netflix’s data-driven personalisation, audience segmentation, and real-time measurement—positioning live sports as a powerful tool to engage viewers and drive growth for the platform."
While Netflix will cease providing quarterly subscriber updates, it is poised to delve deeper into the live event sector and has also confirmed an increase in subscription prices.
Jason Megson, SVP at Sparks International, remarked: "By continuing to invest in enhanced viewer experiences, Netflix is well-positioned to outpace competitors which will sustain subscription growth."
He added, "And, perhaps more importantly, showcasing live sporting events opens up lucrative new revenue streams by creating brand partnerships across each touch-point – from the on-screen to the in-person experience and everything in between."
Netflix enthusiasts have much to anticipate with upcoming content like the returns of 'The Night Agent', 'Stranger Things', and 'Wednesday', in addition to releases like 'Happy Gilmore 2' and Guillermo del Toro’s 'Frankenstein'.
In financial updates, it has been announced that in the United States, the cost for a standard ad-supported month will now be £6.49, while a non-ad standard subscription will rise to £14.60, with premium plans increasing to £18.66. Over in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, an ad-supported account stands at £4.99, climbing to £10.99 for the standard option sans ads, and reaching £17.99 for a premium subscription.
