(Los Angeles) Netflix will broadcast live a show by American comedian Chris Rock, a first for the streaming giant, which wants to win back subscribers and faces competition from other platforms already offering live broadcasts.
Posted at 7:02 p.m.
The show will be broadcast in early 2023, Netflix announced Thursday, in a press release where its vice-president in charge of humor, Robbie Praw, promised “an unforgettable moment”.
The group suffered a growth crisis in the first half, with a net loss of 1.2 million subscribers, which prompted it to take various measures to reverse the trend.
In particular, since November it has offered a new, cheaper monthly subscription, but with advertising, in order to attract new consumers and earn additional income.
Experimenting with a live broadcast with Chris Rock, who made headlines in the spring when he was slapped by actor Will Smith at the Oscars, is also a way to diversify his offer.
Netflix is also planning to offer live sports on its platform, according to information disclosed by the wall street journal this week.
In the ultra-competitive universe of streaming, where platforms are now plentiful, its rivals Disney + and Amazon Prime Video already allow their subscribers to watch sports or live concerts.
Netflix, which rebounded by gaining 2.4 million additional subscribers in the third quarter, was already hosting an annual comedy festival in Los Angeles. But the shows given during this event were not broadcast live.