Netflix amortized content spent at US$13.6B this year, Kagan S&P estimates

A ROUGH PRODUCTION YEAR due to the pandemic and increased competition for streaming services has “necessitated an increased program budget for Netflix Inc. in this and the coming years,” a new S&P Kagan report says. Kagan, S&P Global Market Intelligence’s media research unit, has estimated Netflix’s amortized content spend at US$13.6 billion this year (C$17.2 billion), which includes US$5.2 billion (C$6.6 billion) positioned for originals for 2021. Kagan forecast Netflix’s amortized spending could reach over US$18.92 billion in 2025. Over that period, Kagan predicts more focus will be put on originals, with 14% growth annually. “The launch of new subscription...