Netflix stated that the global passion for the Korean thriller series "Squid Game" has attracted a higher number of new customers than expected, adding that enhancing streaming content will help attract even more customers by the end of the year.
After a sharp decline in subscriber numbers in the first half of 2021, Netflix added 4.38 million subscribers from July to September, raising its total subscribers to 213.6 million worldwide. Refinitiv data indicated that Wall Street analysts were expecting the addition of 3.86 million new subscribers.
Netflix experienced a significant increase in subscriptions last year as the COVID-19 pandemic kept viewers at home, but growth stalled at the beginning of this year. At the same time, competing services like Disney+ and HBO Max ramped up their offerings. Netflix attributed the slowdown earlier this year partly to a lack of new content due to production halts during the pandemic.
Then "Squid Game" premiered on September 17 and surprised company officials by becoming the most-watched original content in its first month. On Tuesday, Netflix announced that 142 million households watched the series, which revolves around contestants competing in deadly games for a prize that would help them pay off their debts.
The series topped the most-watched lists on Netflix in 94 countries and sparked a passion for learning the Korean language.
