Netflix concluded 2024 with unprecedented growth in its subscriber base, marking its largest quarterly increase on record. This surge, attributed to the live broadcast of the highly anticipated boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, as well as the release of the new season of the hit series Squid Game, resulted in an addition of 18.9 million paying customers in the last quarter. This figure significantly surpassed Wall Street analysts’ forecasts, more than doubling their average expectations.

With this growth, Netflix’s global subscriber count has now exceeded 300 million. The last comparable spike in subscribers occurred in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. In tandem with this achievement, Netflix announced an upcoming price revision that will affect the US, Canada, Portugal, and Argentina, where the most popular subscription tier in the US will increase by $2.50 to $17.99 per month, equivalent to approximately 17.29 euros.

The Tyson-Paul match not only attracted a massive global audience of 108 million viewers, making it the “most streamed global sporting event ever,” according to Netflix, but also opened new avenues for growth. In response to this success, Netflix plans to intensify its focus on live sports broadcasts, a strategy aimed at enhancing advertising revenue. American football games, for instance, will feature advertisements visible to all viewers, including those with premium subscription plans.

Despite potential regional challenges, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos conveyed confidence during the quarterly earnings presentation, stating that the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles are not expected to significantly impact Netflix’s 2025 performance. The company, deeply integrated with talent from affected areas, does not foresee material delays or financial repercussions from these natural disasters.