Latest news with #KPOPDemonHunters
RNZ News
18-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Netflix profits surge off ads, higher subscription prices
A face close-up of one of the animation characters from the Netflix movie K-Pop Demon Hunters, wearing a traditional Korean gat. Photo: Netflix Netflix reported stronger than expected second-quarter results Thursday, with profit jumping 45 percent year-over-year as the streaming giant benefited from subscription price increases and a growing advertising business. Revenue climbed 16 percent to US$11.1 billion (NZ$18.3b) in the quarter ended 30 June, beating analyst estimates and the company's own guidance, while net profit surged to US$3.1b (NZ$5.1b). The company raised its full-year revenue forecast, noting that it expects revenue to be between US$44.8b (NZ$73.8b) and US$45.2b (NZ$74.5b) in 2025, up from a range of US$43.5b (NZ$71.6b) to US$44.5b (NZ$73.3b). Netflix highlighted strong performance from its content offers in the quarter, with major hits including the third season of Squid Game , which drew 122 million views. "It has already become our sixth-biggest season of any series in our history, with just a few weeks of viewing so far," the company said in a statement. Other standout titles included the third season of Ginny & Georgia with 53 million views and Sirens with 56 million views. There was also the animated film KPop Demon Hunters with 80 million views, which became "one of our biggest animated films ever" and generated a soundtrack that topped music charts globally. "Korean content continues to be popular with our audience," the company said, pointing to the continued success of international programming that has become a hallmark of Netflix's global strategy. Netflix expressed optimism about the second half of 2025, highlighting an upcoming slate that includes the highly anticipated second season of Wednesday , the final season of Stranger Things and new films from major directors including Kathryn Bigelow and Guillermo del Toro. The company has also announced plans to expand live programming with marquee boxing matches and NFL games, as it continues to diversify its content offerings beyond traditional on-demand entertainment. Netflix shares have surged more than 40 percent year-to-date as investors have responded positively to the company's shift toward profitability, which saw it crack down on password sharing and turn to ads for more revenue. The company counted over 300 million subscribers last December, at the end of a particularly successful holiday season, when it gained almost 19 million new subscriptions. But the company no longer discloses these figures, in order to focus on audience 'engagement' metrics (time spent watching content). In the quarter, Netflix continued to build out its advertising capabilities, saying that it expects to roughly double ads revenue in 2025, though it did not provide specific figures. The service is forecasting US$9b (NZ$14.8b) in revenues from its ad-based subscriptions by 2030. "With another robust earnings showing in Q2, Netflix continues a winning streak going back several quarters and cements its place as the leader among streaming services," said Emarketer analyst Paul Verna. - AFP
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Netflix profits surge off ads, higher subscription prices
Netflix reported stronger than expected second-quarter results Thursday, with profit jumping 45 percent year-over-year as the streaming giant benefited from subscription price increases and a growing advertising business. Revenue climbed 16 percent to $11.1 billion in the quarter ended June 30, beating analyst estimates and the company's own guidance, while net profit surged to $3.1 billion. The company raised its full-year revenue forecast, noting that it expects revenue to be between $44.8 billion and $45.2 billion in 2025, up from a range of $43.5 billion to $44.5 billion. Netflix highlighted strong performance from its content offers in the quarter, with major hits including the third season of "Squid Game," which drew 122 million views. It "has already become our sixth biggest season of any series in our history, with just a few weeks of viewing so far," the company said in a statement. Other standout titles included the third season of "Ginny & Georgia" with 53 million views and "Sirens" with 56 million views. There was also the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" with 80 million views, which became "one of our biggest animated films ever" and generated a soundtrack that topped music charts globally. "Korean content continues to be popular with our audience," the company said, pointing to the continued success of international programming that has become a hallmark of Netflix's global strategy. Netflix expressed optimism about the second half of 2025, highlighting an upcoming slate that includes the highly anticipated second season of "Wednesday," the final season of "Stranger Things" and new films from major directors including Kathryn Bigelow and Guillermo del Toro. The company has also announced plans to expand live programming with marquee boxing matches and NFL games, as it continues to diversify its content offerings beyond traditional on-demand entertainment. Netflix shares have surged more than 40 percent year-to-date as investors have responded positively to the company's shift toward profitability, which saw it crack down on password sharing and turn to ads for more revenue. The company counted over 300 million subscribers last December, at the end of a particularly successful holiday season, when it gained almost 19 million new subscriptions. But the company no longer discloses these figures, in order to focus on audience "engagement" metrics (time spent watching content). In the quarter, Netflix continued to build out its advertising capabilities, saying that it expects to roughly double ads revenue in 2025, though it did not provide specific figures. The service is forecasting $9 billion in revenues from its ad-based subscriptions by 2030. "With another robust earnings showing in Q2, Netflix continues a winning streak going back several quarters and cements its place as the leader among streaming services," said Emarketer analyst Paul Verna. arp/aks
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Have the Fictional Pop Stars of ‘KPop Demon Hunters' Already Scored Bigger U.S. Hits Than So Many Real-Life K-Pop Stars?
If you've been paying any attention to the Billboard charts the past couple weeks, you've undoubtedly noticed the chart onslaught of two brand-new groups: HUNTR/X and Saja Boys, who now have a combined six Billboard Hot 100 entries (and a top 40 hit each). If you're wondering why you'd never heard of either before a couple weeks ago, it's because they didn't exist prior to that — and in some ways technically still don't, as both are inventions of the hit animated Netflix musical KPop Demon Hunters. Despite their fictional nature, both groups are having real-life breakout success befitting their in-universe superstardom — to the point where they're racking up chart achievements that many of the biggest flesh-and-bone K-pop icons have yet to add to their resumés. More from Billboard 'KPop Demon Hunters' Slays Its Way to No. 1 on ARIA Albums Chart Saweetie Announces New Track 'Boffum' Ahead of Australian Tour BLACKPINK Return With High-Energy Anthem 'JUMP': Stream It Now On this first-ever Fictional Pop Star Review on the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard Assistant Social Editor and K-pop superfan Abby Webster to talk about all things HUNTR/X and Saja Boys — what about the girl group and boy band feels authentic, what reminds us of other real-life K-pop idol groups and what maybe stretches credibility a little. We also talk about what has made KPop Demon Hunters into such a runaway phenomenon, and how much bigger it still could get from here. Along the way, we discuss all the most important questions: Why has KPop Demon Hunters been the first musical since Encanto to have such chart-blanketing impact? How many members is too few for a plausible 2025 K-pop group? Is it weird that the HUNTR/X version of 'Takedown' is actually outstreaming the cover done by the established real-life K-pop superstars on the soundtrack? And could a HUNTR/X and Saja Boys tour ever actually happen in real life — and would we go see it if it did? Check it out above — along with two Abby-assembled Spotify playlists, one helping new-to-K-pop Demon Hunters fans find their footing within the genre, and also looking at some of the real-life genre hits echoed by the movie's fictional jams. And please subscribe to the Greatest Pop Stars podcast on Apple Music or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts) for weekly discussions every Thursday about all things related to pop stardom! And as we say in every one of these GPS podcast posts — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights: Transgender Law Center Trans Lifeline LGBTQ Fundraising on GoFundMe Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
