Ted Sarandos

"Britain remains one of the best places for TV and film," says Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos

Ted Sarandos stands at a podium, delivering a talk at the RTS London Convention, beneath a screen on which text reading "FOR THE LONG HAUL" is visible

Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos opened the RTS London Convention with a generous address that highlighted the role British TV has played in the US streamer’s rise to global dominance. Emphasising Netflix’s many UK productions and its heavy investment in studios, he said: “We couldn’t be more excited to be here – and, believe me, we’re not going anywhere.”

The RTS, said Sarandos, holds “a special place in my heart”, recalling that at the 2016 London Convention he premiered a trailer for the first season of The Crown, “a show that stood conventional wisdom on its head”.

International Keynote: Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos | RTS London Convention 2024

Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO of Netflix, the Principal Sponsor of the RTS London Convention 2024, opens the day with a keynote speech. Sarandos, the man behind the transformation of the company from DVD rental to the world’s leading entertainment service, addresses the need for the industry to innovate and the importance of putting the audience first.

Netflix swoops to conquer: An interview with Ted Sarandos

Ted Sarandos was interviewed by Francine Stock at the RTS London Conference (Credit: Paul Hampartsoumian)

Is Netflix set on “world domination”? That was one of the themes in this intriguing encounter between the company’s Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos, and Francine Stock, presenter of Radio 4’s The Film Programme. Since a huge expansion across the globe in January, only China, North Korea, Crimea and Syria remain outside the streaming service’s worldwide reach. 

Netflix plans move into news

Netflix

Netflix could be expanding into current affairs, the company’s Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos has said.

Until now, the on-demand service has focused mainly on film and television content with a long shelf life.

However, speaking in Netflix’s Q3 2015 earnings interview, Sarandos said the company could be following its competitor HBO into producing more timely content.

In 2013, HBO teamed up with co-founder and CEO of Vice Shane Smith to produce documentary series Vice for the US cable network. The show’s fourth season is due to air next year.