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WrestleMania 41 Live On Netflix April 19 and 20, 2025

WWE RAW On Netflix wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Year' award

Media, News, Newspapers, Publishing, Broadcasting, Advertising, Brands, Marketing: Australia and World

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News

How to make AFR your preferred news source on Google

Google has launched a preferred news source feature, allowing you to view articles from The Australian Financial Review more prominently in your search results.

By selecting the Financial Review, you send Google a clear signal that this is a publisher you trust and want at the top of your results for major topics and breaking news.

Make the AFR a preferred source by clicking this link.

https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=afr.com

News

March 14, 2026

The Australian Newspaper: Michael Miller Writes ...

For the first time in 14 years, we are removing the paywall at The Australian.
This is an invitation to experience the professional craft, rigorous reporting and incisive analysis that defines our national masthead. Our teams are currently delivering some of the most vital reporting in the country: from Liam Mendes' reporting on ISIS brides and Penny Timms' ‘Cosmetic Cowboys’ investigation, to Yoni Bashan's essential coverage of antisemitism. You will also find Louise Bryant's moving work on the dementia crisis and John Stensholt's exclusive previews of the Richest 250. You also get added depth from our partners at The Wall Street Journal and The Times. Whether your interest lies in social issues, global news, or business leadership, I invite you to explore it all for free this weekend. www.theaustralian.com.au

(Credit: Michael Miller, The Australian)

News

Media/Advertising (Australia)

Advertising expectations and experience: Australians have their say

New national research conducted by Roy Morgan for Australia's advertising regulator Ad Standards reveals a gap between what Australians expect from advertising and what they currently experience - particularly online. The community sentiment tracking study found that 88% of Australians believe that advertising should reflect community standards and values, yet only 37% say the advertising they encounter meets those expectations. The research highlights the high expectations Australians have of advertising and the importance of aligning with community standards to maintain trust. When it comes to platforms, social media attracts the highest levels of concern (62%). The expectations gap presents a clear commercial risk for brands, with 67% of Australians saying they avoid brands that use inappropriate or offensive advertising; this increases to 83% among Australians aged 65+. (RMS)

News Feature

Pop Culture/Netflix

Dynasty: The Murdochs (2026)

Follows the Murdoch family's behind-the-scenes succession battle as Rupert's adult children compete for control of his media empire, based on thousands of documents, emails and text messages.

A high-profile Netflix docuseries scheduled to premiere on 13 March 2026. Directed by Liz Garbus, the four-part series explores the real-life "Succession" drama within the Murdoch family as Rupert Murdoch’s children battle for control of his global media empire.

Key Real-World Developments (as of March 2026)

The documentary arrives following a definitive shift in the Murdoch family power structure:

Lachlan Murdoch's Succession: In September 2025, a long-running legal battle over the Murdoch Family Trust concluded with Lachlan Murdoch cementing total control.

The Settlement: His siblings—Prudence, Elisabeth, and James—agreed to a $3.3 billion settlement (approx. $1.1 billion each) to cash out of the trust. Under a long-term "standstill agreement," they now have no further share or involvement in the family's core companies, Fox Corporation and News Corp.

Rupert Murdoch's Status: Now 94, Rupert remains Chairman Emeritus of both News Corp and Fox Corp, while Lachlan serves as the sole Chair of News Corp and Executive Chair/CEO of Fox Corp.

Netflix Docuseries Overview

The series is a deep dive into how the empire was built and the subsequent internal fracturing:

Focus: It uses thousands of pages of leaked documents, emails, and text messages to expose the private machinations between the siblings.

Themes: It explores the intersection of family and business, questioning whether a dynasty can remain a family when power and politics are involved.

Featured Experts: Includes interviews with prominent media figures like David Folkenflik, Kara Swisher, and Paddy Manning (Lachlan Murdoch's biographer).

Media

Oher documentaries or series about the family, the following are available:

The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty (2020): A three-part BBC/72 Films documentary charting Rupert's influence on British society and the closure of News of the World.

Succession (HBO): While fictional, this acclaimed drama series was widely inspired by the Murdoch family's real-world dynamics.

News

Biz/Brands (Australia)

Bunnings is Australia's most trusted brand; Telecommunications, led by Optus, is the most distrusted industry

Bunnings is the most trusted brand in the 12 months to December 2025, a ninth consecutive quarterly victory for the leading hardware retailer. Discount supermarket Aldi is in second place, and discount department store Kmart is third; the top three places have remained unchanged for an eighth straight quarter. Meanwhile, Woolworths remains Australia's most distrusted brand, while Optus deteriorated two places to be the second most distrusted brand in the 12 months to December; in fact, Optus was the single most distrusted brand in Australia during the month of December, following its fatal triple-zero outage in September. Roy Morgan's latest data on trust and distrust reveals a remarkable relationship between highly regulated industries and trust. The financial services sector provides clear evidence that greater regulation and stricter rules have helped shape public perception for the better. On the flipside, sectors like Telecommunications and Supermarkets have relatively low regulation and suffer deep distrust; they currently face severe regulatory headwinds as the public demands better accountability and a fair go. (Roy Morgan)

News

News and Pop Culture Flashback

World

News

Headlines on X (11 February 2026)

Super Bowl Analysis: X's Brand Ranx system reported 8 million posts and 3 billion impressions for Super Bowl LX, highlighting top-performing ads.

Media Presence: The platform's official News account recently announced that its Head of News has taken a seat in the White House Brady Briefing Room to represent independent and citizen journalists.

Breaking News: Major outlets continue to use X for instant updates, such as Sky News reporting on UK criminal convictions and Reuters covering Prince William's visit to Saudi Arabia.

To see live breaking news right now, you can visit the X Explore page.

News Flashback

Brand Bowl

"Brand Bowl" typically refers to the various informal competitions and analyses that evaluate the effectiveness, creativity, and public reception of the high-profile commercials aired during the Super Bowl.

The event itself is the Super Bowl, and the "Brand Bowl" is the subsequent media and public discourse surrounding the success of its advertisers.

Super Bowl Advertising Analysis

Every year, numerous organisations, from media outlets to research firms, conduct their own "Brand Bowl" analyses to determine which advertisers "won" the event. These evaluations use different metrics, including:

Consumer Sentiment: Measuring public opinion and emotional response through live focus groups and social media listening.

Brand Recall & Lift: Quantifying how well audiences remember the ad and if it positively impacts brand perception.

Social Media Engagement: Tracking mentions, shares, and overall online conversation volume during and after the game.

Expert Jurors: Panels of advertising and marketing professionals judge the ads based on strategic effectiveness, creativity, and execution.

Brands invest heavily in these commercials, often spending millions for a 30-second slot plus production costs, making the "Brand Bowl" a significant post-event discussion in the marketing world.

Recent "Brand Bowl" Highlights

The conversation around recent Super Bowl ads often highlights key themes and successful campaigns:

Nostalgia & Celebrity: Many brands use celebrities and throwbacks to the 1990s and 2000s to quickly grab attention and connect with millennial and Gen X audiences. Examples include Dunkin' with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Aniston, and spots from T-Mobile and Xfinity.

Emotional Storytelling: Ads that create a genuine emotional connection often perform well. For instance, Budweiser's 2026 ad, featuring a heartwarming friendship between a Clydesdale and a bald eagle, was a crowd favorite.

Humor: Outright funny ads remain a staple. The 2026 Uber Eats 'Foodspiracy' ad and the 2024 State Farm ad with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito were noted for their humor.

Innovation: Brands like Anthropic's AI, Claude, and tech companies like Verizon and Peacock, leveraged their ad time to demonstrate their products or align with the main event in unique ways, often generating significant online chatter.

News

Pop Culture Flashback

Musk vs Zuck

Feb 1, 2024

Social Media Wars Heat Up

Meta Gets Grilled By U.S Congress

Meta and Facebook can't stay out of the news We didn't get Zuck vs Musk in an UFC Octagon, or even via backyard broadcast via X, but we do get Zuck vs Congress and indi news media across the world is pleased to share it... Mark Zuckerberg’s apology doesn't impress New Mexico AG! Mr Zuckerberg has apologised to the parents of online child sexual abuse victims during a senate probe, but the apology was flatly dismissed by one of the state attorney generals suing the big tech bully boy who made his name for rating dorm girls on the web. Ah, the foundation of some of these big tech firms, and you wondered why some of the tech biz firms are so screwed up. Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg’s stunning apology to the parents of online child sex abuse victims during a Senate hearing was “too little, too late,” according to one of the state attorney generals currently suing the embattled social media giant. New Mexico attorney general Raúl "The Terminator" (our term, not hers) Torrez, whose office has sued Meta for exposing kids to adult sex content and alleged child predators, was on Capitol Hill on this past Wednesday as a "Zoo" (meme from the www) Zuckerberg told parents he was “sorry for everything you have all been through.” “Mr. Zuckerberg has appeared before Congress numerous in the past, and its not because he's going a good or great job. He has given assurances on the safety of his platforms many times before,” Torrez told The Post. “It seems that once the spotlight fades, they go right back to doing business as usual.” Senate Republicans, including Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham, each dismissed Meta’s pitched safety measures as ineffective during harsh exchanges and barbs with Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg, who surprised the hearing’s attendees by standing up from his podium and speaking directly to the audience, told parents that “no one should go through the things that your families have suffered.” Earlier, Zuckerberg testified that his company had spent $5 billion on safety last year. ZB shows that throwing money at some problems doesn't always work.

News Flashback

Musk vs Zuck

The long-simmering rivalry between tech titans Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg has evolved from corporate competition into a public feud that famously peaked with talks of a literal cage match.

The Potential "Cage Match"

While the hype reached a fever pitch in 2023, the physical fight remains unconfirmed and is widely considered unlikely to happen.

Status: Zuckerberg essentially "called off" the bout in August 2023, stating Musk "wasn't serious" after Musk suggested a practice round in Zuckerberg's backyard and claimed he needed surgery first.

The Matchup: Mark Zuckerberg: Trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), he has medaled in amateur tournaments and is significantly younger (39) and more active.

Elon Musk: Relies on his significant size and weight advantage (6'1" vs. Zuck's 5'7") and has joked about his "Walrus" move (lying on top of the opponent).

Corporate & Personal Rivalry

The "Musk vs. Zuck" conflict spans nearly a decade, rooted in business failures and clashing ideologies.

Origins (2016): The feud ignited when a SpaceX rocket explosion destroyed a $200 million Facebook satellite. Zuckerberg publicly stated he was "deeply disappointed" by the failure.

AI Debate: The two have clashed over the future of artificial intelligence. Musk views AI as an existential threat to humanity, while Zuckerberg has dismissed Musk’s "doomsday scenarios" as "irresponsible."

Platform Wars: After Musk acquired Twitter (now X), Meta launched Threads in July 2023 as a direct competitor. Musk responded by calling Zuckerberg a "copycat" and threatening a lawsuit over trade secrets. (A.I News)

News Flashback

WWE Super Bowl Ad/WWE Super Bowl

During Super Bowl LX, which took place on 8 February 2026, WWE maintained a high-profile presence through athlete appearances and broadcast partnerships, though it did not run a standalone corporate brand commercial like its "infamous" 1999 ad.

2026 Super Bowl Commercials & Broadcasts

' to promote the weekly show. Netflix x WWE Raw: Following their transition to the streaming platform, Netflix aired a 20-second commercial during the Super Bowl broadcast titled 'WWE Monday Night RAW

SummerSlam 2026: A dedicated 60-second spot aired during the weekend festivities to promote the upcoming SummerSlam 2026 event.

WWE Stars in Other Ads: Retired pro wrestler Danielle Moinet (Summer Rae) was featured in promotional content for the Madden Bowl leading up to the game.

WWE Presence at Super Bowl LX

The most significant WWE connection to the 2026 Super Bowl was the Halftime Show, headlined by music superstar and part-time WWE wrestler Bad Bunny.

Bad Bunny Halftime Show: His performance included 11 songs and was praised by fellow WWE stars like Seth Rollins, who referred to him as his "colleague" and "fellow WWE superstar" during post-game media appearances.

Attending Superstars: Several WWE athletes were spotted in attendance at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, including Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins, Kofi Kingston, Damian Priest, and Lola Vice.

Crossover Moments: A viral moment occurred on "Radio Row" before the game when WWE’s Seth Rollins and AEW World Champion MJF had a public interaction, shaking hands and hugging for the cameras.

Historical Context: The "Infamous" WWE Super Bowl Ad

For those searching for the classic WWE (then WWF) Super Bowl ad, it refers to the 1999 "WWF Attitude" commercial for Super Bowl XXXIII. That commercial featured stars like The Rock, Mankind, and Stone Cold Steve Austin in a corporate setting, ironically claiming the company was a "non-violent form of entertainment".

While fans often call for a return to this style of advertising, WWE has primarily focused on promoting specific events or platform partnerships (like Netflix) in recent years. (A.I News)

News

Pro Wrestling/WWE/Pop Culture

Wrestling With News And Sports Entertainment

WrestleMania Season Hits Australia And World

March 13, 2026

Drew McIntyre Quits WWE SmackDown Then Returns with Vengeance

On the March 13 SmackDown at Footprint Center, McIntyre opened with a fiery promo venting frustration over losing the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes the week before. After a confrontation with GM Nick Aldis and Bloodline enforcer Jacob Fatu, he tossed the mic and walked out, echoing a similar 2024 stunt. He resurfaced during Fatu's match against Trick Williams, blindsiding Fatu to hand Williams the upset win and stay in the WrestleMania 42 spotlight.

News

Randy Orton Brutally Turns on Cody Rhodes at SmackDown Contract Signing

During the WrestleMania 42 contract signing on SmackDown in Phoenix, Randy Orton shockingly attacked Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, busting him open after years of brotherhood from their Legacy days. Orton delivered a low blow, hurled Rhodes over the announce desk, and posed with the title belt amid the chaos at the sold-out arena. The betrayal ignited their hottest feud heading into WrestleMania 42, with other highlights including Jelly Roll's wild Miz TV appearance, the Bella Twins' return to challenge for titles, and Jade Cargill eyeing Rhea Ripley.

News

Danhausen Curses Miz Before Jelly Roll's Wild Haymaker on SmackDown

Danhausen stole the show on Friday Night SmackDown in Phoenix, handing out merch to ecstatic fans he called his 'stanhausens' and delivering his signature curse on The Miz during a tense Miz TV segment with Jelly Roll. Tensions escalated when Kit Wilson interrupted, prompting Jelly Roll to swing wildly—missing Wilson and knocking out Miz instead. Backstage sources noted Danhausen's strong recovery from a shaky WWE debut, with fans raving about his chaotic energy and speculating on WrestleMania matchups like Danhausen teaming with Jelly Roll.

News

Danhausen Cracks Up Bella Twins with Clone Joke on SmackDown

On March 13 SmackDown in Philadelphia, WWE's new signing Danhausen met Nikki and Brie Garcia for the first time backstage, delivering his signature comedy that had everyone in stitches. The 32-second clip, captioned 'TWINHAUSEN' by WWE, drew thousands of likes as Danhausen himself tweeted about the 'multiplicity.' Fresh off earning his multi-year contract by beating Brian Johnson at Elimination Chamber, Danhausen also handed out T-shirts, cursed The Miz, and amped up the show's chaos ahead of WrestleMania 42.

News

WWE 2K26 Launches with CM Punk on Cover Amid Monetization Debate

WWE 2K26 released March 13 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, with premium editions available early from March 6. CM Punk headlines the standard edition and a 2K Showcase mode mixing his career highlights with fantasy matches, joined by a roster of over 400 superstars, refined gameplay, and new types like I Quit. Early reviews score around 80 on Metacritic for its polish, but the Ringside Pass battle pass system—for Season 1 DLC like lucha libre stars—sparks backlash over grinding or paying extra, contrasting simpler unlocks in older games like 2011's SmackDown vs. Raw.

News

Pop Culture/Streaming

Marvel Teases Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 with Gritty Trailers and Posters

The eight-episode season streams on Disney+ starting March 24, showcasing Matt Murdock in his red suit facing armored foes marked 'AVTF' and tense street confrontations. Kingpin, played by Vincent D'Onofrio, commands the city skyline in a new poster hinting at his mayor-like influence, while teases include a shirtless, ripped Charlie Cox and returning faces like James Wesley in a likely flashback and Detective Brett Mahoney on rainy streets. Fans lit up over the intense action and comic nods, with Cox set to discuss favorite Daredevil runs in a mini-series dropping March 17.

News

Motorsport

Russell Wins Shanghai Sprint, Extends F1 Lead Over Ferrari Charge

Starting from pole, Mercedes' Russell dominated the Shanghai Sprint, finishing 1.2 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Leclerc with teammate Lewis Hamilton third after a razor-close fight for second. The victory gives Russell 25 Drivers' Championship points, ahead of Kimi Antonelli on 18 and Leclerc on 15, while Max Verstappen slumped to 19th after a poor launch in his Red Bull. Ferrari's double podium keeps them competitive in Constructors', though drivers gripe about the wide, battery-focused 2026 cars limiting action.

News

YouTube News

Feature

YouTube is a global online video-sharing platform owned by Google. It is currently the second-most-visited website in the world.

Key Features and Services

Core Platform: Users can watch, upload, and share a vast array of content, including music videos, educational tutorials, and live streams.

YouTube Premium: A paid subscription that removes advertisements and enables background play and offline downloads.

YouTube Music: A dedicated service for streaming millions of songs and music videos.

YouTube TV: A streaming television service that provides live TV from major broadcast and cable networks.

YouTube Shorts: A feature for creating and viewing short-form vertical videos.

Recent Developments (2026)

Premium Lite Update: In early 2026, YouTube announced that Background Play and Downloads are being added to the Premium Lite subscription tier.

AI Integration: The YouTube Labs program is testing new AI features, such as Beyond the Beat (AI hosts for music) and VibeCheck (AI coaching for Shorts).

Economic Impact: By late 2025, YouTube's annual revenue exceeded US$60 billion, driven by both advertising and its growing subscription services.

News

Awards

X wins Media Man 'Platform Of The Month; Runner-ups: YouTube and LinkedIn

Netflix wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award

WWE wins Media Man 'Wrestling Promotion Of The Month' award

UFC wins Media Man 'Combat Sports Promotion Of The Month' award; Runner-up: MVP aka Most Valuable Promotions

KATIE TAYLOR VS AMANDA SERRANO LIVE ON NETFLIX FRIDAY JULY 11, 2025

Streaming Movies, TV/Series

Netflix

New Movies For April 2025

The List!

"Alpha" (2018)
"Babah" (2024)
"Bonnie and Clyde" (1967)
"Conan the Destroyer" (1984)
"Draft Day" (2014)
"Field of Dreams" (1989)
"Geostorm" (2017)
"Jack the Giant Slayer" (2013)
"K-9" (1989)
"Nimesh Patel: Instant Karma" (2025)
"Psycho" (1960)
"Rooster Cogburn" (1975)
"Sicario: Day of the Soldado" (2018)
"Smokey and the Bandit Movie collection" (1977)
"The Breakfast Club" (1985)
"Uncle Buck" (1989)

And More Movies!

"Banger" (2025): April 2
"Test" (2025): April 4
"The Addams Family" (1991): April 9
"The Dad Quest" (2025): April 9
"The Hating Game" (2021): April 9
"Frozen Hot Boys" (2025): April 10
"Meet the Khumalos" (2025): April 11
"How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies" (2024): April 12
"Life or Something Like It" (2002): April 13
"iHostage" (2025): April 18
"American Sniper" (2014): April 21
"Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey" (2025): April 21
"Bullet Train Explosion" (2025): April 23
"Havoc" (2025): April 25

Netflix TV Series:

April 2025

"The Apothecary Diaries" (season 1): April 1
"Garnachas: Glorious Street Food!" (season 1): April 2
"Love on the Spectrum" (season 3): April 2
"The Parisian Agency: Exclusive Properties" (season 5): April 2
"Devil May Cry" (season 1): April 3
"Jurassic World: Chaos Theory" (season 3): April 3
"Pulse" (season 1): April 3
"Karma" (season 1): April 4
"The 101st Proposal" (season 1): April 4
"Yaiba: Samurai Legend" (season 1): April 5
"Blippi’s Job Show" (season 1): April 7
"Kill Tony" (season 1): April 7
"How to Sell Drugs Online" (Fast) (season 4): April 8
"Kian’s Bizarre B&B" (season 1): April 8
"The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox" (season 1): April 8
"Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing" (season 1): April 9
"Unicorn Academy" (chapter 3): April 9
"Black Mirror" (season 7): April 10
"Moonrise" (season 1): April 10
"North of North" (season 1): April 10
"Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go!" (season 4): April 10
"The Gardener" (season 1): April 11
"Resident Playbook" (season 1): April 12
"Kian’s Bizarre B&B" (season 1): April 15
"The Glass Dome" (season 1): April 15
"Young Sheldon" (season 7): April 15
"Project UFO" (season 1): April 16
"The Diamond Heist" (limited series): April 16
"Istanbul Encyclopedia" (season 1): April 17
"Ransom Canyon" (season 1): April 17
"The Sea Beyond" (multiple seasons): April 20
"Carlos Alcaraz: My Way" (season one): April 23
"You" (season 5): April 24
"Pokémon Horizons" (season two): April 25
"Astérix & Obelix: The Big Fight" (season 1): April 30
"The Eternaut" (limited series): April 30
"Turning Point: The Vietnam War" (limited series): April 30

Specials: WWE WrestleMania 41: April 19 and 20

Sources Include: X, Netflix TUDUM

News

Netflix Earnings, Q1

April 17, 2025

Netflix reported first-quarter results Thursday that topped Wall Street estimates as subscription price hikes and a jump demand for the streaming giant’s ad-supported tiers helped boost performance.

Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) shares rose 3% in afterhours trade following the results.

Netflix announced earnings per share of $6.61, easily beating the consensus of $5.69. Revenue for the quarter rose 13% to $10.54 billion, above the consensus of $10.5 billion. Operating income grew 27% from last year to $3.35 billion.

The streaming giant attributed the better-than-expected results to "slightly higher subscription and ad revenue and the timing of expenses."

For Q2, the company expects revenue growth of 15%, underpinned by recent price changes and continued growth in membership and advertising revenue, with operating margin coming in at 33%, a 6% year-over-year improvement. The company expects EPS for the quarter of $7.03, which is above the consensus of $6.24. Revenue for the current quarter is expected to be $11.04 billion, compared to the consensus of $10.9 billion.

Looking further ahead, the company reiterated its forecast for 2025 revenue of $43.5B to $44.5B and is still targeting a 29% operating margin for 2025. Wall Street had seen revenue for the year of $44.3 billion.

Netflix said it repurchased 3.7 million shares in the quarter for $3.5 billion, the most ever purchased in a quarter.

The company also announced that it is now producing in over 50 countries.

News

Netflix First Quarter 2025 Earnings Interview
Apr 17, 2025

Video Interview
https://youtube.com/watch?v=-yzzXc9Z6gU

News

Netflix Inc. shares rose in extended trading Thursday after the company reported profit in the first quarter well above its own projections and that predicted by analysts, due to higher-than-expected subscription and advertising-revenue growth, it said.

The streaming giant reported net income of $2.89 billion, up 13% compared to $2.33 billion in the same quarter a year earlier. Analysts had estimated net income of $2.48 billion, according FactSet. The company said that its revenue would have risen 17% if the impact of foreign currency fluctuations was removed.

Earnings per share came in at $6.61, the company reported, far ahead of the $5.67 predicted by analysts polled by FactSet.

Netflix shares
NFLX +1.19% closed 1.2% higher during Thursday’s regular session and were last up 2.6% in after-hours trading, after initially spiking more than 4%. The company’s stock has recently outperformed the market in the most recent tariff-driven slowdown, suggesting investors had expected a strong earnings report.

Revenue in the quarter was $10.5 billion, up from $9.4 billion in the first quarter of 2024. That came in even with the $10.5 billion that analysts had predicted. Revenue was boosted by a price hike in January.

The company said that despite the recent period of economic instability driven by the Trump administration’s tariff push, it saw “no material change to our overall business outlook since our last earnings report.”

This was the first quarter that Netflix did not report subscriber numbers, which had previously been considered a key indicator of growth, as the company attempts to transition to more traditional financial metrics as markers of its development. In its shareholder letter Thursday, Netflix said only that it posted “slightly higher” subscription revenue than it had expected.

Last quarter — the final period in which Netflix disclosed new subscriber numbers — it reported adding 18.9 million subscribers globally, well above what had been expected.

Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Netflix had set the ambitious target of doubling its revenue by 2030 and reaching a market capitalization of $1 trillion. The company’s current market valuation is around $411 billion.

The company aims to have 400 million global subscribers by then, up from just over 300 million at the end of 2024. Netflix also is aiming to triple its annual operating income by 2030 from around $10.4 billion last year, the Journal reported.

Netflix News via Grok

New Releases and Hits:

The Life List, a rom-com starring Sofia Carson, continues to dominate, holding the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s English Films list for three weeks with over 13 million views in the latest week. Fans are reportedly making life-changing decisions inspired by the film’s themes.

Black Mirror Season 7 premiered last week, featuring a star-studded cast including Cristin Milioti, Paul Giamatti, and Awkwafina. The second episode has sparked debate due to alternate versions, with some fans claiming Netflix is “gaslighting” them.

Pulse, a medical drama likened to Grey’s Anatomy, is climbing the charts despite mixed reviews, with fans praising its “addictive” and “juicy” action.

The Glass Dome, a chilling Scandi thriller by Camilla Lackberg, is generating buzz with its upcoming release.

iHostage, a thriller based on the 2022 Amsterdam Apple Store hostage crisis, is set to drop next week.

North of North, a comedy focusing on Indigenous stories, debuted at No. 5 on Netflix’s Top 10 with a perfect 100% critic score.

Upcoming Projects:

The Sandman Season 2, its final season, will release in two parts: six episodes on July 3 and five on July 24, 2025.

Jennifer Lopez will star in The Last Mrs. Parrish, a film directed by Robert Zemeckis.

May 2025 will bring Balle perdue 3, the final chapter of the French action saga, and The Four Seasons, a Tina Fey comedy-drama.

Platform Updates:

Netflix expanded its dubbing and subtitling options, now offering subtitles in 33 languages and audio in 36 on TVs, responding to thousands of monthly user requests. This enhances accessibility for global audiences, with nearly a third of viewership tied to non-English content like Squid Game and Lupin.

Industry Discussion:

Netflix’s binge-release model is under scrutiny as competitors like Disney+ use weekly drops to sustain buzz. Recent hits like Squid Game Season 2 and American Primeval reportedly fade quickly due to all-at-once releases. (Grok)

News

Netflix Earnings Interview

First Quarter, 2025

https://ir.netflix.net/investor-news-and-events/investor-events/event-details/2025/Netflix-First-Quarter-2025-Earnings-Interview-2025-sSZFdrz-vz/default.aspx

Websites Netflix: Investors
https://ir.netflix.net/ir-overview/profile/default.aspx

Netflix: Newsroom
https://about.netflix.com/en/newsroom

Steaming TV/Pop Culture

Netflix @netflix

April 5, 2025

Movies: Top 10

1. The Life List

2. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

3. Talk to Me

4. Despicable Me 4

5. Con Mum

6. Kraven the Hunter

7. The Twister: Caught in the Storm

8. Trap

9. The Electric State

10. The Secret Life of Pets

News

TV Shows: Top 10

1. Adolescence

2. The Residence

3. Million Dollar Secret

4. WWE Raw 2025 (Ep March 31, 2025)

5. Wolf King

6. Running Point

7. Ms. Rachel

8. Gold and Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure

9. Zero Day

10. Chelsea Handler

News

Specials: WWE WrestleMania 41: April 19 and 20

Sources Include: X, Netflix TUDUM

https://netflix.com/tudum/top10/tv

https://netflix.com/tudum/top10

RAW On Netflix

CM Punk goes to war against Seth "Freakin" Rollins as Raw debuts on Netflix

WWE RAW | LIVE on Netflix | Starting January 6 (Netflix YouTube)

Triple H reveals the new logo for Raw on Netflix (WWE YouTube)

Raw on Netflix premiere from Intuit Dome in LA on Jan. 6, 2025

WWE Raw debut episode on Netflix (Wikipedia)

News

Streaming Entertainment via Grok; X TV Tipped To Eventually Go Head To Head With YouTube, Netflix, But Will Take Many Years To Get To That Point; Customers Waiting To Churn/Switch. Changes Ahead For WBD, HBO, Binge, Paramount And Many Others - Too Many To List! Media Man Founder and Subscriber TV Veteran

Streaming entertainment has transformed how we consume media, offering a vast array of movies, TV shows, music, and more directly to our devices. Here's a breakdown of what's happening in this space as of my last update:

Major Players:

Netflix: Known for its original content like "Stranger Things," "The Crown," and "Squid Game." They've been pushing into gaming and have been experimenting with ad-supported models.

Amazon Prime Video: Comes with Amazon Prime membership. Notable for "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "The Boys," and its integration with shopping and other Amazon services.

Disney+: A powerhouse for family entertainment, featuring Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and classic Disney content. It's also expanding its library with more adult-oriented content under the Star banner in some regions.

HBO Max: Offers premium content like "Game of Thrones," "Chernobyl," and a vast library of movies. It's also known for its DC Universe shows.

Apple TV+: While newer, it's making waves with high-quality originals like "Ted Lasso," "The Morning Show," and "See."

Peacock (NBCUniversal): Provides a mix of free and premium content, including "The Office," WWE, and original series like "Punky Brewster."

Paramount+: Combines CBS All Access with content from Paramount, Nickelodeon, MTV, and more, featuring shows like "Star Trek: Discovery" and "The Stand."

Trends and Developments:

Original Content: There's a massive push towards creating exclusive content to attract subscribers. This includes movies, series, documentaries, and even live sports.

Global Expansion: Services are increasingly focusing on international markets, either by offering local content or by making their service available in more countries.

Bundling: Companies are bundling their streaming services with other products. For example, Disney has bundles with Hulu and ESPN+.

Ad-Supported Models: To combat rising costs, some platforms like Netflix have introduced or are considering ad-supported tiers.

Direct-to-Streaming Releases: Movies are increasingly bypassing traditional theatrical releases, going straight to streaming platforms, especially noted during global health crises.

Quality Over Quantity: While there's a lot of content, platforms are also focusing on high-quality, award-winning productions to stand out.

Interactive Content: Some platforms are experimenting with interactive movies or shows where viewers can choose the plot direction.

Technological Integration: Enhanced with technologies like 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos for audio, providing a cinematic experience at home.

Challenges:

Content Saturation: With so many platforms, there's a risk of content fatigue among viewers.

Churn: Subscribers frequently switch between services based on what's currently available, leading to high turnover.

Regulatory Scrutiny: Issues like market dominance, content licensing, and privacy are increasingly under regulatory lenses.

Piracy: Despite advanced measures, piracy remains a challenge, especially for content not easily accessible in certain regions.

If you're interested in a specific aspect of streaming entertainment or want to know about recent developments since my last update, feel free to ask! If there's a particular service or type of content you're curious about, I can dive deeper into those areas. (Grok)

News

Streaming TV

Streaming TV has revolutionized how we consume television content, offering a vast array of shows, movies, and original programming through internet-based platforms rather than traditional cable or satellite TV. Here's a breakdown of what you might be interested in regarding streaming TV as of my last update:

Key Players:

Netflix: Known for its extensive library, original content like "Stranger Things," "The Crown," and "Squid Game," and a global reach.

Amazon Prime Video: Comes with an Amazon Prime subscription, offering shows like "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "The Boys," and movies, plus the integration with shopping services.

Hulu: Offers a mix of current TV episodes, a robust library of older content, and originals like "The Handmaid's Tale." It's also notable for its live TV option.

Disney+: Focuses on family-friendly content, including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and National Geographic. Hits include "The Mandalorian" and "WandaVision."

HBO Max: Home to HBO's acclaimed series like "Game of Thrones," "Chernobyl," plus a wide range of Warner Bros. movies and new originals.

Apple TV+: While newer, it's gaining traction with high-quality originals like "Ted Lasso," "The Morning Show," and "Foundation."

Peacock: NBCUniversal's service, offering a mix of free and premium content, including "The Office," "Parks and Recreation," and new originals.

Trends and Features:

Ad-Supported vs. Ad-Free: Many services now offer tiers where you can choose between watching with ads for a lower price or paying more for an ad-free experience.

Live TV Streaming: Services like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and Sling TV allow streaming of live broadcast channels, appealing to sports fans and those who still want traditional TV experiences.

Bundling: Some platforms offer bundles with internet service providers or other streaming services to reduce costs.

Original Content: There's a significant push towards exclusive, original content to differentiate services, leading to a golden age of TV with high-quality, diverse programming.

Global Expansion: Services are increasingly focusing on global markets, offering localized content or subtitles/dubbing in multiple languages.

Technological Considerations:

4K and HDR: Many services now offer content in 4K resolution and HDR, enhancing viewing quality.

Offline Viewing: Most services allow downloading content for offline viewing, which is great for travel or areas with poor internet.

Smart TVs and Devices: Streaming is not just for computers or smartphones anymore; smart TVs, streaming sticks (like Roku, Amazon Fire Stick), and gaming consoles have made streaming accessible on almost any screen.

Challenges:

Content Fragmentation: With content spread across multiple services, there's a growing issue of "streaming fatigue" where consumers feel overwhelmed by the number of subscriptions needed.

Price Increases: As content quality and exclusivity rise, so do subscription costs, leading to discussions about the cost-effectiveness of streaming vs. traditional cable.

Piracy: The fragmentation and cost have somewhat revived piracy concerns as viewers look for ways to access content without multiple subscriptions.

If you're looking for recommendations or have specific questions about streaming services or shows, feel free to ask! If there's been a significant update or new service since my last update, you might want to check the latest reviews or news for the most current information. (Grok)

News

Financial manoeuvring shows Foxtel machinations as News considers sale - October 23, 2024

Foxtel has spent at least $79 million launching its new Hubbl TV platform, while its majority owner, News Corp Australia, has suffered a 9 per cent drop in advertising revenue, accounts for the two biggest Murdoch family-controlled media businesses in Australia reveal.

Documents lodged with the corporate regulator reveal there has also been a reshuffle of which News Corp entity owns its 65 per cent stake in Foxtel. Foxtel owns a cable TV business, streaming platforms Kayo Sports, Binge and Foxtel Now, and Hubbl. Telstra owns the remaining 35 per cent.

News Corp has put Foxtel up for sale, telling the market there had been “third-party interest” in the group. The Australian Financial Review’s Street Talk column has reported that its investment bank, Goldman Sachs, is running a dual-track process for a sale or refinancing of Foxtel’s borrowings.

This appears to be reflected in Foxtel’s financial year accounts lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission by a company known as News Pay TV Financing.

In September last year, a News Corp company called NCA Ventures bought News Corp’s shares in NXE Australia, the private Australian parent company housing Foxtel, for $865.8 million. Both companies have the same parent.

The group then issued redeemable preference shares to another wholly owned News Corp entity, FS (Australia) I, for $599.6 million. On July 1, the group paid FS (Australia) I a dividend of $44.5 million.

These were both categorised as “financial liabilities” instead of borrowings, reducing Foxtel’s $1.8 billion borrowings on paper to $1.2 billion.

The accounts show Foxtel had a good year for advertising. It reported revenue of $2.9 billion in the 2024 financial year, which was made up of $2.5 billion from subscribers, $360 million in advertising and $46 million from agency and installation fees.

Despite a wider television advertising market downturn that has stripped $650 million from free-to-air broadcasters over the past two years, Foxtel’s ad business rose 6 per cent from $339 million. Adding advertising to Binge, the company’s streaming service, last year may have helped. As at the end of June this year, Foxtel said it had 4.8 million total subscribers across pay TV and streaming, which was broadly in line with the previous year.

The advertising slowdown impacted News Corp Australia, however, which owns news mastheads The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Herald Sun and news.com.au. It posted $1.5 billion in revenue in the 2024 financial year, down from $1.6 billion in 2023, its filings reveal.

Subscription revenue fell from $714 million to $703 million, advertising fell from $627 million to $571 million, and other revenue was largely flat at $245 million. Its subscriber revenue fell despite reporting more subscribers – it had 1.12 million this year, and 1.06 million last year. (AFR)

Click here for full article

Full article via subscription to The Australian Financial Review

Streaming Media Industry Disruptions Continue

Additional Mergers And Acquisitions Forecast

Live Sport Major Draw As Per Netflix

Compelling Storylines And Series Keeps Audience Coming Back For More As Per WWE

Combat Sports Storytelling And Talent Elevation As Per Dana Whites Contenders Series

Free Services With Ads Supported Has Taken Some Audience As Per Tubi

YouTube Cemented As Major Challenge To Netflix

Paramount's Quality And Iconic Movies Keep Them Valuable Commodity, Despite Bottom Line Loss

X Corp's X Platform One To Watch For Major Industry Disruption; WWE Speed Deal With WWE Just A Minor Preview Of What's On The Cards

Media Man