Bela Bajaria: Content, Live Sports and Netflix's Next Chapter · 30:49

In this episode of On Stage, Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer at Netflix, joins Elle Duncan, Lead Host of Sports and Live Events at Netflix and studio host for USA Sports, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of entertainment, storytelling, and live sports.  Recorded in April 2026 at the CAA World Congress of Sports presented by Sports Business Journal, the discussion explores how Netflix continues to evolve from a streaming pioneer into one of the most influential players in sports and live entertainment.  Throughout the conversation, Bajaria shares insights on:  - The Power of Great Storytelling: Why compelling characters and authentic stories remain at the center of every successful piece of content.   - Netflix & Live Sports: How the company is approaching live events and sports programming while staying true to its broader content strategy.   - Building Global Franchises: What it takes to create content that resonates across cultures and audiences around the world.   - Creative Partnerships: How Netflix works with leagues, athletes, creators, and producers to develop distinctive programming.   - Leading at Scale: Bajaria's philosophy for managing one of the world's largest content organizations during a period of rapid industry transformation.   From documentaries and scripted series to live sporting events, it's a fascinating look at how one of the world's most influential media companies is thinking about the future of content.  🔔Subscribe to SBJ on YouTube: https://bit.ly/41bbXaV 🔔Sign up for our FREE newsletter, SBJ 360. Get a concise, high-level overview of the most important stories shaping the sports industry—delivered to your inbox each weekday: https://bit.ly/4eCzx8C #Netflix #livesports #sportsmedia #streaming #digital #liveevents #sports #nfl #wwe #mlb 00:00 – Why Sports Are the Ultimate Storytelling Engine 00:30 – Inside Netflix’s Strategy for Sports & Entertainment 01:23 – Why Netflix Finally Entered Live Sports 02:09 – The Shift from On-Demand to Live Experiences 02:53 – Early Live Experiments: Chris Rock to Brady Roast 03:26 – “Go Big or Go Home”: Netflix’s Event Strategy 04:07 – What Netflix Brings to Sports That Others Don’t 05:28 – “Netflix-ifying” Sports: Creating Viral Moments 06:33 – What Makes a Must-Watch Global Sports Event 07:27 – NFL, Beyoncé & Turning Games Into Spectacles 08:17 – Beyond Traditional Sports: High-Risk, High-Buzz Events 09:32 – Viral Impact: How Netflix Measures Cultural Moments 11:14 – The Winning Formula: Fandom, Scale & Global Reach 12:37 – BTS & Superfans: Winning with Global Audiences 14:02 – Netflix’s Global Playbook for Sports Growth 14:22 – Elevating Women’s Sports Through Investment 18:00 – How Storytelling (Drive to Survive) Transforms Sports 21:33 – Choosing the Right Athletes & Stories 26:15 – Biggest Surprises & the Future of Netflix Sports

June 25, 2026