Media

Netflix provides weak growth forecast as shares fall

Apart from production delays, newer entrants such as Disney+ and HBO Max slow growth

The Netflix series Halston starring Bill Pullman (left), Krysta Rodriguez and Ewan McGregor. Photograph: Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix

Tue Jul 20 2021 - 21:36

Netflix provided a weak forecast for customer growth in the current quarter as the streaming video pioneer faces growing competition, the return of movie theatres and a lifting of pandemic restrictions that had kept people at home.

The company’s shares dropped 1.6 per cent in after-hours trading on Tuesday.

Earnings per share for the quarter came in at $2.97 (€2.52), below the average forecast of $3.16, according to analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.

Netflix is weathering a sharp slowdown in new customers after a boom in 2020 fuelled by stay-at-home orders to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.

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The company projected it would add 2.6 million customers from July through September. Wall Street had expected a forecast of 5.5 million.

For the just-ended quarter, Netflix added 1.54 million customers, reaching 209 million in total. Wall Street had expected 1.039 million new sign-ups.

A year ago, Netflix added 10.1 million subscribers in the second quarter.

This year, Netflix felt the impact of Covid-19 on TV production, which left the company with a small menu of new titles. At the same time, Walt Disney’s Disney+, AT&T’s HBO Max and other services attracted customers and summer blockbusters returned to movie theatres.

Netflix promises a heavier line-up in the second half of 2021, including new seasons of You, Money Heist and The Witcher.

The company is also expanding in other businesses. It has hired a new executive to run a video-game unit and launched a website to sell merchandise tied to Lupin and other hits.

“We view gaming as another new content category for us, similar to our expansion into original films, animation and unscripted TV,” said the company in a letter to shareholders. “Games will be included in members’ Netflix subscription at no additional cost similar to films and series. Initially, we’ll be primarily focused on games for mobile devices.” – Reuters

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