Too Much TV: Seven Questions I'd Ask Netflix Executives

I wish Netflix executives would make the effort to talk about their business in settings other than investors conferences and earnings reports

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Wednesday, April 16th, 2025:

NETFLIX EARNINGS COMING TOMORROW
Netflix reports first-quarter financial results Thursday after market close. As a reminder, the company is not expected to share subscriber figures after reporting record subscriber additions in the fourth quarter.

The various estimates from Wall Street expect the streamer to unveil another strong quarterly performance. Analysts estimate Netflix will report first-quarter financial revenue of $10.52 billion, up from $9.37 billion in last year's first quarter. The company has beat analyst revenue estimates in six straight quarters.

As a bit of a comparison, guidance from Netflix calls for first-quarter revenue to be $10.42 billion. The company guided for full-year revenue to be in a range of $43.5 billion to $44.5 billion.

Netflix's stock price also continues to be strong, even in the face of a lot of current economic uncertainty. The company's 52-week trading range is $542.01 to $1,064.50. Stock prices are up 10.2% year-to-date in 2025 and up over 50% in the past year.

I agree with Netflix that releasing subscriber numbers can provide an inaccurate measure of how a company is doing. For instance, adding a large number of low revenue subscribers can be less useful than adding a much smaller number of high ARPU (average revenue per subscriber) subscribers. Still, the lack of subscriber numbers does make it more challenging to figure out overall growth trends.

Here are some of the questions I would ask Netflix executives tomorrow if given the chance:

* With the world economy teetering on a recession, what impact does Netflix think that will have on its advertising business?

* What impact does Netflix expect the U.S. tariffs will have on its business? Specifically, will the various tariffs have an impact on decisions about where productions will take place moving forward?

* Seasons two and three of Three Body Problem appear to be headed to Hungary, after season one was produced in the U.K. Does the passage of a number of anti-LGTBQ laws in Hungary provide any concern for Netflix? The laws include outlawing same-sex adoptions and outlawing LGTBQ public celebrations, such as an annual gay rights parade. What would Netflix executives tell LGTBQ cast and crew who may be concerned about working in Hungary?

* Netflix has briefly experimented with a FAST channel in several European markets. And I know that the idea has been considered in the U.S. Is this idea still being considered - either in America or in some global territories?

* I think it's fair to say that the reaction to The Electric State was disappointing, especially given it's reported $300 million budget. Are there any lessons you think can be learned from that experience?

* Netflix executives have frequently argued that content discovery best happens from word of mouth and the use of Netflix's algorithm. But I think it's fair to note that isn't always an optimal way to promote original content. In fact, it's become increasingly common for actors, showrunners and studios to hire outside PR firms because they are concerned their project won't be a priority and will get lost in the algorithm. So do you think there is room for additional approaches to get original content on the radar of subscribers?

* Do you think that most people in Hollywood understand the Netflix business model and how the company defines success and failure? And if not, doesn't the company have an obligation to investors to spend some time explaining their business in a way that clarifies a lot of the misunderstandings that frequently surface around discussions of the company?

Okay, I have more than seven questions I'd like to ask, but these will do for now.

I really wish Netflix executives would make the effort to talk about their business in settings other than investors conferences and a few carefully vetted interviews.

SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT 'LEVERAGE: REDEMPTION'
A new season of Leverage: Redemption premieres Thursday on Prime Video and I recently had the opportunity to speak with some of the cast ahead of the premiere and those interviews will post on AllYourScreens tomorrow (I'll link to them in tomorrow's newsletter).

But I wanted to tease them a bit with a piece of the conversation I had with Beth Riesgraf, who plays Parker on the series:

I talked to someone recently who had also been on a show for a number of years and they said the interesting thing about it is that at some point you get to know your character really well, but you also get to know the other characters really well too. And you get to a point where if someone said, would Elliot do this? You would know the answer just because you know them so well.

And I'm guessing as an actor, that's, that's a sort of a comforting feeling to know the characters that well and be comfortable in their skins.

Absolutely. Having that shorthand is everything. You know, we still all surprise each other as much as we can with improv and little jokes and things we'll throw at each other to keep it exciting, but we couldn't do that without trust.

We've all earned each other's trust in that way. I think knowing the integrity of our characters is worth gold to each of us. And we all fiercely protect that for one another.

You know, we also have amazing directors coming in who really understand that concept that we get these characters and we can actually be a really good team with you as a director. Because if you're not as familiar with the show, you can count on us to bring it. Right. And so I think we're really lucky in that way.

Beth, that passage of time is one of the interesting things about the show, particularly this season. It's not that the characters are feeling old necessarily, but you get this sense sometimes of them thinking, "Okay, you know, how long can we do this? Or, you know, we've kind of done this before." It just begins to wear on you after all of these years.

At what point do you think Parker says, "You know what, I like the adrenaline, but I need something else. I'm getting too old for this?"

I feel like, you know, I don't think she's ever going to stop. I think she would have Brianna make some device for her to fly around before she'd sit still. I think she just cares too much.

She's on a path and a mission and I don't see her really slowing down, but yeah, I know what you mean. We are fortunate. I mean, the show does have the potential to keep going and going and that is one of the joys of the show and thank goodness the fans are along for the ride and they love the characters so much because we've been allowed to grow and go through all these changes.

JIMMY FALLON IS THE PERSON I WOULD HAVE PICKED TO HOST BROADCAST TELEVISION'S FIRST INFOMERCIAL DISGUISED AS ENTERTAINMENT
For better or worse, NBC's Jimmy Fallon appears to be someone who will sign onto just about any project if the paycheck clears. So when NBC announced that it had ordered a show that is basically The Apprentice, but with lots of branding opportunities, Fallon was the logical choice to host it.

I'm just going to include the description of On Brand With Jimmy Fallon provided by NBC, because I don't think that I can improve on this dystopian description of advertiser-friendly television:

NBC has greenlit “On Brand with Jimmy Fallon,” an innovative unscripted series that follows what happens when Jimmy Fallon starts a premier marketing agency and fills it with the most creative, clever, and competitive go-getters he can find. The series will be hosted, executive produced and created by Fallon based on his experience and expertise working with an impressive list of his own global partnerships in the auto, insurance, apparel, gaming and technology industries. It will premiere later this year in collaboration with production company Electric Hot Dog.

Among the household brands to be featured are Captain Morgan, Dunkin’, KitchenAid, Marshalls, Pillsbury, Samsung, SONIC Drive-In, Southwest Airlines and Therabody. Samsung will power the “On Brand Agency’s” headquarters.

In each episode, the On Brand Agency creatives will work with a major brand in need of a big idea for a massive, high-priority campaign – from creating earworm jingles and unbelievable activations to producing the most quotable commercials and must-have merchandise. They will have unprecedented access to the client’s businesses before pitching their vision to a brand representative, along with Saint John and Fallon, with only the best ideas moving on to proof of concept and the opportunity to see their campaign brought to life on the national stage after each episode.

Shoot me, please.

ODDS AND SODS
* Season two of Poker Face premieres Thursday, May 8th on Peacock. Here's a first look at the trailer.

* The 17th season of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia will premiere Wednesday, July 9th

* The prequel series Outlander: Blood Of My Blood will premiere Friday, August 8th on Starz

* HGTV has ordered new seasons of Ugliest House In America and Scariest House In America, both hosted by "actress, comedian and home design enthusiast" Retta

TWEET OF THE DAY

WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16TH, 2025:
Agatha Christie's Towards Zero (BritBox)
Expedition Files Season Premiere (Discovery)
Ghost Adventures Season Premiere (Discovery)
Government Cheese Series Premiere (Apple TV+)
I Am Not Mendoza Series Premiere (Netflix)
LOL: Last One Laughing Colombia Season Premiere (Prime Video)
No Man's Land Season Two Premiere (Hulu)
Project UFO (Netflix)
Sherlock & Daughter Series Premiere (The CW)
Synduality Noir Season One Premiere (Hulu)
The Diamond Heist (Netflix)
The Stolen Girl (Freeform)

THURSDAY, APRIL 17TH, 2025:
Boarders Season Two Premiere (Tubi)
Istanbul Encyclopedia Series Premiere (Netflix)
Law & Order: Organized Crime Season Premiere (Peacock)
Leverage: Redemption Season Three Premiere (Prime Video)
#1 Happy Family USA Series Premiere (Prime Video)
Ransom Canyon Series Premiere (Netflix)

SEE YOU ON THURSDAY!