Netflix Exec Reacts To Claim That Amazon Overpaid For Beast Games: “You Know, That Was The Show That He Made”
A Netflix executive reacts to reports of Amazon overpaying for Beast Games. Beast Games is a reality TV game show wherein over 1,000 contestants compete for a $5 million prize. It is hosted by Jimmy Donaldson, who is much better known as MrBeast. MrBeast is an American YouTuber with over 362 million subscribers on the video content creation platform. While he originated as a Minecraft gaming YouTuber in 2012, he now produces a variety of content, which includes game show-style content and videos wherein he compares items of starkly different prices.
Speaking with Puck, Netflix's chief content officer Bela Bajaria reacts to Amazon's bid for Beast Games. The topic came up as part of a conversation Bajaria has with the source about whether Netflix would plan to partner with a major YouTuber or podcaster as part of their new strategy. When disscussing Beast Games, Bajaria notes that Netflix did bid for the YouTuber-created competition show, but implies that she agrees that Amazon overbid for the series. Check out the full quote below:
But you did go after the MrBeast game show. Amazon ultimately, in my opinion, overpaid for it.
You said it, I didn’t. (Laughs.) We did [bid for it]! Look, MrBeast is a great talent on YouTube and was making a big unscripted show very much like Squid Game. But he, you know, that was the show that he made. We met with him, as did lots of other people.
What This Meant For Beast Games
Beast Games Was A Prime Video Success
Even if Prime Video did overbid to get Beast Games, things ultimately worked out well for the competition series. Drawing in fans from MrBeast's YouTube content and undoubtedly new viewers as well, Beast Games set a Prime Video record for being the streamer's most-watched unscripted series in its first 25 days. During this period, the show racked up over 50 million views. Even though Prime Video may have bid highly for the series, they likely made their money back.
Meanwhile, in this time, Netflix focused their energy on promoting Squid Game season 2. Though a scripted narrative series, Bajaria seems to see Squid Game as having a similar setup to Beast Games due to the similar premises of the gameplay in the competitions. If MrBeast had gone with Netflix when pitching his series, the streamer would likely have made sure it did not compete with Squid Game. But still, Netflix did not experience too big of a loss this winter given Squid Game's popularity.
Our Take On Netflix's Beast Games Bid
Netflix Has Been Making Some Changes
While Bajaria did not concretely confirm that Netflix would be working with a YouTuber in her interview, the executive does not seem closed off to the possibility. These last couple of years have seen Netflix expand to several new horizons in terms of their content creation, which includes developing unscripted works in partnership with WWE and expanding their K-drama reach. Partnering with a YouTuber would be another way for the streamer to bring in a wider audience, so if Netflix is open to the idea, it may be a good way for the streamer to expandeven after missing Beast Games.
Source: Puck
Beast Games is a competitive reality series where 1,000 contestants compete for a multi-million dollar cash prize, including extravagant rewards such as a private island and luxury vehicles. The show focuses on high-stakes challenges and the determination of participants vying for unprecedented winnings.
- Main Genre
- Reality
- Seasons
- 1
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