Skip to main content

Netflix subscriptions jump as ‘Stranger Things’ drives popularity

netflix subscriptions jump as stranger things drives popularity season 2 005
Netflix
Detailed in Netflix’s third quarter earnings, the streaming video company significantly beat expectations by more than one million subscribers. Originally forecasting an increase of two million international subscribers and 300,000 based in the U.S., Netflix reported a rise of 3.2 million new international subscribers as well as 370,000 additional subscribers located in the United States.

This leap surprised investors as expectations were previously conservative due to the 25 percent price hike that kicked in for current subscribers during the third quarter of 2016. In a letter to shareholders, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings attributed growth to the company’s growing library of original content such as Stranger Things, Luke Cage and The Getdown as well as the second season of Narcos. 

Recommended Videos

Likely good news for subscribers, Hastings indicated that the company would not be “cracking down” on subscribers sharing passwords. In addition, there’s currently no discussion within the company related to additional price hikes. On the subject of a rumored offline viewing feature, Hastings mentioned that the company was looking into the possibility, but didn’t offer any details on a future launch date.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

The earnings report indicated that “self-producing” original content is less expensive than licensing content from studios and networks. It’s likely that the library of licensed content on Netflix will continue to shrink while more original, exclusive shows are released on the streaming service.

The report also promoted the upcoming American-British drama series called The Crown debuting on November 4, calling it a mixture of Mad Men, House of Cards and Downton Abbey. Netflix is expected to increase the total hours of original streaming content from 600 hours in 2016 to more than 1,000 hours in 2017, specifically due to an investment of $6 billion in original programming.

After the news broke about the increased subscription rates, the stock price of Netflix shot up 20 percent from roughly $100 a share to $120 a share in after-hours trading. For the fourth quarter of 2016, Netflix is forecasting an increase of 1.45 million subscribers in the United States and 3.75 million new international subscribers. In total, Netflix now has more than 86 million streaming members.

Mike Flacy
By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…
Stranger Things season 5 reveals episode titles, confirms 2025 release
Eleven stands in front of the camera and stares in "Stranger Things."

Stranger Things season 5 is coming next year.

Netflix has confirmed that the fifth and final season of Stranger Things will stream in 2025. Additionally, the streamer revealed season 5's titles for all eight episodes in a video announcement.

Read more
5 best Netflix TV shows to stream this Halloween
Four boys in Ghostbusters costumes sand next to each other.

Halloween is finally here. Besides eating candy and picking out costumes, one of the best ways to celebrate Halloween is to watch TV shows catered to the holidays. From horrors and comedies to dramas and family-friendly programs, many Halloween series are ready to be watched at the click of a button.

One of the streaming services promoting Halloween is Netflix. Under the special "Netflix & Chills" section, you'll find several TV shows that are perfect to stream on Halloween. Not all of them are scary, so don't worry if horror is not your thing. Our Halloween TV recommendations include a haunted house horror series, a 1980s-inspired saga, and a spinoff of a popular cable drama.

Read more
12 best TV shows to stream this Halloween
A blonde-haired woman wears a skull mask in "The Fall of the House of Usher."

Halloween is a prime time for people to binge-watch scary stories. Thankfully, horror fans can sit back and stream countless TV shows on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Disney+, and beyond for fun, frightening evening. Audiences can check out terrifying mysteries like Evil and Stranger Things, along with more lighthearted comedies like Wednesday and What We Do in the Shadows.

Ironically, picking the right Halloween show can make viewers feel like kids in a candy story. So for those unsure of what to watch this spooky season, here's a guide to the best TV shows to stream for All Hallows' Eve.

Read more