In this commentary, Rob Moore highlights that Netflix experienced its first quarterly loss of 200,000 subscribers in ten years and projects a potential loss of up to 2 million in the next quarter. He attributes the decline to three main factors: recent price hikes, a aggressive crackdown on passwordāsharing (with Netflix estimating 100 million households violate the policy), and the companyās decision to exit the Russian market, which alone may account for around 700,000 lost users. Moore discusses the broader cultural significance of Netflix as a global entertainment platform, questioning whether it serves as a valuable societal service or merely a distraction. He also explores the ethical dimension of bigātech sanctions against Russia, weighing business motives against moral responsibility. Throughout, Moore solicits audience opinions on pricing fairness, the legitimacy of stopping password sharing, the righteousness of the Russian exit, and the overall value of Netflix, while interspersing personal recommendations of shows and documentaries. The piece ends with a call to action for comments, shares, and engagement.
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So for the first time in 10 years, Netflix has lost 200,000 subscribers in a quarter and predicted to lose 2 million subscribers in the next quarter. I think this is huge news. Netflix is a cultural institution. Netflix helps 200 million people escape reality, and of course, they're, um, real-world topical controversial documentaries. It's also a current and future business model that has changed the world. They were pretty much solely responsible for Blockbuster going bust, and they were the leaders in the exchange of online information and entertainment. Most companies thought that live streaming of, you know, films and content would not be possible, and Netflix have been disruptive and they have changed the world. And now Netflix, for the first time in 10 years, they have lost 200,000 subscribers. And the boss, um, Reed Hastings, has said they may lose 2 million more subscribers in the next quarter. This is huge news for entrepreneurs, for people who want to escape and be entertained against the crazy shit that's going on in the world. So let me know what you think about this in the comments. Is this the start of the end for Netflix? Or is this a move to stop the password sharing? They have over 200 million users. I have interviewed twice and got to know the founder of Netflix. And, you know, they have definitely disrupted the world we live in. Do you believe that Netflix is a great service to society with entertainment and documentaries that help us escape and face the realities and the social dilemmas, or do you think really it's just a distraction from what's going on in the real world? Now, Kerry's absolutely right. Kerry has just said, um, a lot of the drop in users is from their exit from Russia. So I actually just want to commend a big tech company. Big tech companies get loads of hate, but this big tech company has lost hundreds of thousands of users and probably will lose millions more by exiting Russia. So they've essentially formed a sanction against Russia and at their own expense done probably what is right for the greater world that we live in. Probably. Well, let me know what you think. All these Russian sanctions, are they the right thing to do? Now Vanessa said it's a business move, so they have mentioned that they are on a lockdown against password sharing. It'sā they reckon there are millions of users that break the rules. In fact, a Netflix estimate, 100 million households are breaking the rules by password sharing. Now, what do you think about that? Personally, I think it's wrong. Netflix are a business, they are a service, They should be allowed to make profit. We should pay for good content. And so anyone who, you know, shares passwords, I believe that is wrong. And I believe that Netflix should do something about that. And actually, their prediction to lose millions of subscribers in the next 3 months, partly it's exit from Russia. I believe it's something around 700,000 subscribers they may lose there, and partly because they're working super hard on stopping account sharing. Now, Paul is also right, they whacked theirā well, whacked their prices up, come on, it's only a few pounds or dollars. They increased their prices. Let's be honest though, Ā£10 or $10 for years, like, you've probably had Netflix, virtually unlimited content, for Ā£10 or less, or dollars or less for about a decade. So you know what, inflation's been more than what they've increased their prices. So I think it's fair that they've increased their prices. Let me know what you think about that, by the way. Do you think it's fair that they increase their prices? Um, but they want to stop account sharing. I think it's absolutely fine and fair and reasonable that they should stop account sharing. I think, you know, hackā not hacking in, but, you know, using accounts for free, you might like that. You might save a few dollars, but the company's going to lose out, and then the other users are going to lose out because the fees are going to be passed on to them. So maybe the fees have gone up because of all the people sharing the accounts. We know who you are, you cheeky buggers. Anyway, please hit the share button because I want to talk about these topical, relevant things going on in the world that affect us. And 200+ million people use Netflix. They either use it to escape or they use it to educate themselves, and them losing millions of users is big news. However, however, could it hurt them? Because them increasing their prices and then getting rid of account sharers and rule breakers probably long term will be good for them. But it's hurting them in the short term. The sanctions are hurting them in the short term. A lot of big tech companies get a lot of shit from people for not making the right decision and doing the right thing. And in this instance, maybe Netflix have. Let me know what you think in the comments. Hit the share button. Let me just let you know the news in its entirety. So for the first time in 10 years, Netflix subscribers have fallen. They lost 200,000 members in the first quarter of 2022. This came because they raised their prices and sanctioning and pulling out of Russia. Netflix are announcing that there probably will be 2 million or more loss of subscriber numbers in the next quarter. It estimates 100 million households are breaking the rules. Netflix boss Reed Hastings has said, when we're growing fast It wasn't a high priority to work on account sharing, and now we're working super hard on it. Um, people have been saying that this has been happening for a long time. Um, it feels like the company is trying to identify an area of potential growth. They've tried to curb password sharing in the past and had a very hard time. Well, what's wrong with trying to continue to grow and to stop password sharing? Let me know what you think in the comments. Do you think Netflix is a valuable service? Do you think it's fairly and well priced? Do you think that big tech firms should actually get some credit when they do things like pulling out of Russia to their own detriment and expense? Oh, and let me know what your favorite Netflix show is. We're currently watching the LA Lakers Dynasty at the moment. That's really good. Alexander McQueen documentary, probably my favorite documentary of all time. What have we got coming out soon? Ozark recent was good. I think we've got Breaking Bad is coming back out. Let me know your favorite Netflix show just for fun and hit the share button. Thanks for tuning in, and remember this: if you don't risk anything, you risk everything.
