Synopsis
Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings is stepping down as chairman after 29 years, shifting focus to philanthropy. The streaming giant's stock dipped following the announcement. As Netflix enters a new era, the company plans to significantly expand its advertising business, aiming for $3 billion in revenue by 2026.Listen to this article in summarized format
In a letter to investors released on Thursday, Netflix said Hastings will not stand for re-election at its annual meeting in June and plans to focus on philanthropy and other pursuits.
The company's stock plunged around 8% on the news of Hastings' departure. The company's co-founder is credited with helping to revolutionise how movies and television shows are delivered in homes, upending Hollywood's business model.
"As the company enters a new era without Reed Hastings, advertising will play a bigger role," said eMarketer senior analyst Ross Benes. "There's no better time to amplify an ads business than right now with the upfronts looming."
Netflix reaffirmed in a 14-page shareholder letter that its mission remains "ambitious and unchanged" - to entertain the world, providing movies and series for many tastes, cultures and languages. The company's full-year outlook remained unchanged.
The company did not say how it plans to spend the $2.8 billion termination fee it received after losing the Warner Bros movie studio and HBO, and lifted its earnings per share to $1.23 in the first quarter compared with 66 cents per share in the same quarter last year.
Revenue rose to $12.25 billion, an increase of 16% from the year-ago period, modestly exceeding analyst forecasts of $12.18 billion.
Netflix, which long told investors that a Warner Bros acquisition was a "nice to have, not need to have" proposition, highlighted areas of future growth.
The company said its investment in expanding its entertainment offerings with video podcasts, and live entertainment - such as the World Baseball Classic in Japan - is fuelling engagement. It plans to use technology to improve the user experience and improve monetisation, as advertising revenue remains on track to reach $3 billion in 2026 - a twofold increase from a year ago.
