Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, addressed the recent speculation surrounding changes in the company’s talent compensation structure. During her remarks at the Bloomberg Screentime event, Bajaria emphatically clarified that Netflix is not altering its established cost-plus payment model for talent in film and television. She expressed confidence in the current model, stating, “We like our model, and we like our model in film and TV… we are not changing our model. Our model works great for talent. It works great for filmmakers. It’s worked well for us. We like the model. It’s worked for a long time, so we are not changing our compensation model.”
Bajaria’s comments come amidst a growing conversation in Hollywood about how streaming services are re-evaluating their financial arrangements with creative talent. She did mention that Netflix has ventured into different deal structures on a very limited basis, noting that there have been “few bespoke deals on a couple of movies” based on talent interest.
The event itself was attended by a group of prominent agents and managers, many of whom had anticipated discussions regarding potential changes to payment models. Instead, they were met with insights into Netflix’s expansive global audience and marketing strategies, including what constitutes a hit and how its content affects various cultural dynamics. At this gathering, Endeavor’s CEO Ari Emanuel humorously questioned when the topic of backend compensation would come up, illustrating the industry’s keen interest in these financial dynamics.
Overall, Bajaria’s remarks signal Netflix’s commitment to maintaining its existing compensation framework, reassuring talent that the tried-and-true model remains intact for the foreseeable future.