3 weeks ago
Netflix's Sarandos: stars key in India, 'massy' and 'classy'
Ted Sarandos is the co-boss of Netflix, a company that makes movies and shows people watch on screens.
He spoke at an event called Express Adda in India.
This year, Netflix is celebrating ten years of being in India.
Sarandos said Netflix wants to make all different kinds of shows, not just one kind.
He said the company makes both fancy, serious shows and fun, popular shows.
He believes people love fun shows just as much as they love fancy ones.
He gave two examples from India: Lock Upp, a popular reality show, and Musafir Cafe, a beautiful love story.
Sarandos also said famous actors, called stars, are very important in India.
But he said a star alone is not enough — the actor needs to be in the kind of role audiences expect.
Famous stars also make Netflix feel confident about making big shows.
Netflix is marking its tenth anniversary in India this year.
Co-CEO Ted Sarandos said Netflix must serve both mainstream ('massy') and niche ('classy') audiences.
Sarandos cited Lock Upp and Musafir Cafe as examples of Netflix India's balanced slate.
Sarandos said star power is 'very, very important' in India but casting alone cannot guarantee success.
Netflix's original programming began with House of Cards and expanded into many genres over time.
- Who
- Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO of Netflix
- What
- Discussed Netflix India's programming philosophy, saying the platform must offer both 'classy' and 'massy' content and that stars are crucial in India
- Where
- At the Express Adda event hosted by Anant Goenka of The Indian Express Group
- When
- This year, as Netflix marks its tenth anniversary in India
- Why
- To explain Netflix's goal of entertaining the world by offering something for everybody
Key facts
- Company
- Netflix
- Speaker
- Ted Sarandos, Co-CEO
- Event
- Express Adda, hosted by The Indian Express Group
- Milestone
- 10 years of Netflix in India
- Content strategy
- Serve both 'classy' and 'massy' audiences
- India examples cited
- Lock Upp and Musafir Cafe
- First Netflix original
- House of Cards
Quotes
Ted Sarandos
Netflix Co‑CEO
“If you want to serve the world, if you want to entertain the world, then you have to have something for everybody.”
indianexpress.com
“I’m not judging. I think it’s quite classy, in fact.”
indianexpress.com







