Netflix is planning to cut about 1,000 jobs worldwide as the streaming company reshapes its operations and shifts investment towards advertising, live sports and gaming amid pressure to sustain growth and keep viewers engaged.
The proposed reductions represent approximately six per cent of its workforce and would mark the company’s biggest round of job cuts since 2022. Most of the affected positions are expected to be in product, technology, legal and human resources, according to reports.
Netflix co-chief executives Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos informed employees of the planned cuts in an internal email, explaining that the company needed to make careful decisions about how it deployed staff and funding while continuing to invest in areas with the greatest potential. Brandspur Brand News reports that the executives also assured employees that Netflix remained on course to meet its full-year earnings forecast.
The restructuring comes as the company broadens its business beyond its traditional subscription-based streaming model. Netflix has expanded into video podcasts, programming featuring YouTube creators, live sports and other events, while exploring live television channels and bundles with other streaming services.
The push into new formats is intended to give audiences more reasons to use the platform and create additional opportunities to generate revenue. Advertising and gaming are also becoming important areas of focus as the company looks to strengthen its position in a competitive entertainment market.
Netflix previously reduced its workforce in 2022, eliminating about 150 positions in May and a further 300 in June. Those cuts followed a decline in quarterly subscribers that ended more than a decade of consistent growth and prompted the company to adjust spending in response to slower revenue expansion.
The latest plans reflect the continuing challenge of balancing the cost of running a global streaming service with spending on content, technology and new commercial opportunities. While the company is pursuing growth in several areas, it must also ensure that its investments generate sufficient returns.
Netflix reported that subscribers watched more than 97 billion hours of content during the first half of 2026, a two per cent increase from the same period a year earlier. The company described engagement as healthy, pointing to the breadth and quality of its programming as factors in assessing how audiences use the service.
However, the modest rise in viewing hours comes as streaming companies compete for consumers’ time and spending. Netflix is seeking to maintain audience interest while diversifying its content and revenue streams, including through live programming and advertising.
For employees, the planned reductions could mean job losses across several corporate functions. For the company, the challenge will be to redirect resources towards emerging business areas without undermining the programming and technology that underpin its core streaming service.
