(Sherwood News)

Netflix added 18.9 million subscribers, the company’s best-ever quarter

After building a huge subscriber lead over competitors like Disney, this is the last time Netflix will break out its user figures.

Tom Jones

1/22/25 9:39AM

Well, after more than 12 years, ~50 quarters, and dozens of Chartr charts using the data, Netflix just broke out its final batch of quarterly subscription figures, as the streamer looks to shift its focus to other metrics (mostly financial ones).

Yes, we are still watching

Reed Hastings’ company has gone out with a bang in the subscriber department, though, reporting a record-breaking quarter where it added almost 19 million subscribers to cross the 300 million paid memberships threshold, buoyed by its forays into live sports streaming.

Netflix is up more than 13% in early trading, with plenty besides the subscriber numbers for investors to enjoy, like the $10.25 billion in revenue and $1.9 billion of net profit that the streamer hauled in.

It turns out that pitting a Paul brother (either one, realistically) against Mike Tyson and streaming the full bout, even with significant technical outages, is a recipe for racking up new subscribers. Spending $150 million to throw in two Christmas football games helped the streamer to its most-watched Christmas Day on record, while drama fans signed up to catch the Boxing Day “Squid Game” season-two drop.

Streamers sub count chart — Sherwood News

Though we’ll miss updating our streaming wars chart, Netflix’s decision to stop breaking out just how many subscribers it’s adding may please the likes of Disney, Warner Bros., and Paramount — competitors who have never been able to match its astounding growth rate.

The decision may also be prescient for another reason: Netflix can’t keep growing like this forever, and, with another set of price rises also announced in the past 24 hours — the standard plan is going up to $18 — user complaints about the Netflix bang they get for their buck may only get louder.

Max Knoblauch

9/12/25

Amazon is testing adding GM electric vans to its EV delivery fleet dominated by Rivian

Rivian may have some competition in its electric delivery van division: Bloomberg reports that Amazon is testing a small number of GM’s BrightDrop vans for its fleet.

According to Amazon, the test currently only includes a dozen of the vehicles. Amazon’s fleet also contains EVs from Ford, Stellantis, and Mercedes-Benz.

GM debuted BrightDrop in 2021, but the vehicles have struggled to sell and piled up on GM lots due to high prices and steep competition. GM began offering up to 40% rebates on the vehicles this year.

The test comes as Rivian struggles through tariffs and the end of EV tax credits. Earlier this year, it lowered its annual delivery outlook by about 13%. As of June, Amazon said it has more than 25,000 Rivian vans across the US. Earlier this week, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said the company is still on track to deliver 100,000 vans to Amazon by 2030 and is “thinking about what comes beyond” that initial target.

GM has sold 1,592 BrightDrop vans through the first half of the year, more than the full-year total it sold in 2024.

Amazon Tests GM EV Delivery Vans in Bid to Meet Climate Goals

GM debuted BrightDrop in 2021, but the vehicles have struggled to sell and piled up on GM lots due to high prices and steep competition. GM began offering up to 40% rebates on the vehicles this year.

GM has sold 1,592 BrightDrop vans through the first half of the year, more than the full-year total it sold in 2024.

GETTING

HOOKED

Chris Stokel-Walker9/12/25

Claire Yubin Oh

soup season

9/12/25

Shake Shack is launching a French onion soup... burger

The fast-casual chain will be hoping premium upsells can fatten up its profit margins.

Nia Warfield

9/11/25

Paramount Skydance reportedly preparing an Ellison-backed Warner Bros. Discovery takeover bid, sending shares soaring

Paramount Skydance is preparing a majority cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, The Wall Street Journal reported, sending shares of both companies surging. The Journal’s sources say the deal is backed by the Ellison family, led by David Ellison.

WBD shares were up 30% on the report, while Paramount Skydance jumped 8%.

The offer would cover WBD’s entire business — cable networks, movie studios, the whole enchilada. That comes after WBD announced plans last year to split into two divisions: one for streaming and studios, the other for its traditional cable and TV assets. A recent Wells Fargo note gave WBD a price target hike, primarily because the analysts viewed it as a prime takeover candidate.

If the deal goes through, it would bring together HBO, CNN, DC Studios, and Warner Bros.’ film library with Paramount+, Nickelodeon, and MTV, all under one umbrella.

Exclusive | Paramount Skydance Prepares Ellison-Backed Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

If the deal goes through, it would bring together HBO, CNN, DC Studios, and Warner Bros.’ film library with Paramount+, Nickelodeon, and MTV, all under one umbrella.

Max Knoblauch

9/10/25

As tariffs take root, August new vehicle prices climb by the most in more than 2 years

According to data from Cox Automotive, 17 vehicle brands raised prices of their new vehicles by more than 3% in August.

Ford Issues Recalls On Some Of Its Mach-E Mustangs And Aviators