Netflix has spent years insisting it doesn’t need anyone else’s help to keep viewers glued to its platform, but that might be changing. According to The New York Times, Netflix executives have recently discussed bringing Peacock and Fox One onto the platform, a move that would mark a strategic change for a company that has traditionally kept its service self contained.
Why this would be a big deal for Netflix
Just two years ago, Netflix told shareholders it already operates as a go-to destination for entertainment, and doesn’t require any partnerships. That stance is clearly softening now. Netflix has already dipped a toe into this idea in France, where it added a local broadcaster called TF1 to its app back in June, complete with live channels and on demand shows.
Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters called the early results promising during a July earnings call, and said the company would consider similar deals going forward if they work for both sides. It’s worth noting that Netflix currently has no imminent deal planned with Peacock or Fox One, so this remains an early stage conversation rather than a final deal.
What happens next is still unclear
One big question remains unanswered, and it actually matters a lot. Would Netflix simply sell subscriptions to Peacock and Fox One the way Amazon’s Prime Video already does with services like HBO Max? Or would it fully fold that content into its own library, the same approach YouTube recently took with Peacock through its Premium tier?
Netflix hasn’t clarified which direction it’s leaning toward. Either way, this fits into the current trend across streaming apps, where companies once focused purely on gaining subscribers are now racing to become the one app people open first, even if that means teaming up with the same rivals they used to avoid entirely.