BBC News, New York (20 OCT)-Netflix subscriptions picked up in the third quarter of 2021 as non-English language shows continued to be the streaming platform’s best performers.
The US firm added 4.4 million users in the three months to 30 September, more than double the previous quarter.
Korean TV series Squid Game was its biggest hit, watched by 142 million households in its first four weeks.
It comes as some Netflix staff prepare to walk out on Wednesday amid a backlash over comedian Dave Chappelle.
They accuse the star of mocking transgender people in his latest Netflix special, but the firm has defended him.
The strong performance for Netflix follows a sluggish start to 2021, when the surging demand for streaming seen earlier on in the pandemic petered out.
The US firm – which is the world’s largest streaming platform – now expects to add some 8.5 million new subscribers in the fourth quarter, above analysts’ expectations.
It’s being driven by popular shows such as Sex Education, the Queen’s Gambit and the global smash Squid Game.
The dystopian series – which tells the story of a group of people forced to play deadly children’s games for money – has become a viral sensation and dethroned period drama Bridgerton as Netflix’s most popular show to date.
