Streaming giant, Netflix reported 18.9 million new subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2024, bringing its global subscriber base to 302 million—far outpacing competitors in Hollywood streaming.
Resulting from a successful holiday quarter and its increasing investment in live sports, this pushed Netflix’s stock by over 13%, an additional $50 billion increase in market value, and its overall worth reaching approximately $425 billion.
One of the drivers behind this surge was Netflix’s strategic focus on live sports broadcasting. This included high-profile events like the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match, which garnered 65 million streams, and two NFL games aired on Christmas Day, drawing in 30 million viewers globally.
The streaming service’s entrance into live sports has helped attract tens of millions of viewers, a move that analysts say significantly contributes to Netflix’s top spot in the streaming market. “Netflix is simply running away with the streaming market thanks to excellent execution, a stellar content slate, and scale advantages,” noted analysts from Evercore ISI.
In addition to live sports, Netflix has seen massive success with its content offerings. The second season of the dystopian thriller Squid Game has become one of the most-watched original series on the platform, and other major releases like Carry-On have contributed to the platform’s top 10 films.
The company’s continued focus on high-quality content has been credited as the reason behind its subscriber increase. “It’s content that drives users to streaming services,” said Forrester Research Director Mike Proulx.
Netflix’s financial results also show growth in revenue, which climbed 16% year-over-year. The company attributed this to the combination of fresh programming and major sporting events that have attracted massive viewership.
Netflix’s operating income increased by 25% as a result of these efforts. In addition to the revenue boost, Netflix is now looking to expand its ads business, with Co-CEO Greg Peters announcing, “We doubled our ads revenue year over year last year. We expect to double it again this year.”
Nonetheless, Netflix has raised prices for most of its plans across the U.S., Canada, Portugal, and Argentina, with the standard ad-free plan increasing to $17.99 per month, up from $15.49. The ad-supported version also saw a price rise, from $6.99 to $7.99 per month.
While some analysts were concerned about possible pushback from users, others believe that Netflix’s strong content line-up will help mitigate any such resistance. “Netflix is now flexing its muscles by adjusting prices given its far stronger and diversified programming slate compared to rivals,” said Paolo Pescatore of PP Foresight.
Netflix is planning further investments in live events and programming that resonate with audiences. With a focus on delivering content that strikes a cultural chord, Netflix is aiming to maintain its market-leading position in the years to come, even as it expands into new areas like live programming and gaming.
The company is positive about its growth, with a forecasted revenue between $43.5 billion and $44.5 billion in 2025.
