LOS ANGELES, March 5, 2026, 08:00 PST
- Netflix’s live-action “One Piece” is back for season two next week, with cameras already rolling on season three.
- J.P. Morgan bumped up its rating on Netflix this week, with the analyst describing the company as a “healthy organic growth story” and pointing to the streamer’s content slate and advertising strategy.
- TV producers across Europe are scrambling to expand as streaming giants clamp down on production decisions and limit distribution options.
Netflix brings back its live-action “One Piece” for a second season this Tuesday, and crews are already at work on season three—evidence the platform is betting more heavily on international franchises to lock in audience attention. For a limited time, AMC theaters will show the opening two episodes from the new season on the big screen. Reuters
Timing is key here. The streaming business has cooled off; rapid subscriber gains are out, replaced by jolts from breakout shows, pricing shifts, and ads. For Netflix, international hits are essential. “One Piece” fits that bill — the series is designed to cross borders and languages.
Traditional TV production houses are merging, hoping size will help them negotiate with bulk-buying streaming platforms. “We’re in an interesting time of tremendous change in the media,” RedBird IMI CEO Jeff Zucker told Reuters, following news that Banijay and All3Media will combine their production businesses—a move aimed squarely at balancing the muscle of Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. Reuters
This week, J.P. Morgan’s Doug Anmuth bumped Netflix up to overweight, putting a $120 price target on the stock, according to a note highlighted by CNBC and TheStreet. Anmuth called Netflix a “healthy organic growth story,” crediting the company’s “strong content” and pointing to an ad tier that, in his view, isn’t yet fully monetized. TheStreet
Netflix’s original series are generating ripple effects outside the platform itself. Health groups, in letters pressing Formula One to ban tobacco-linked nicotine pouch sponsors, point to the sport’s efforts to win over younger viewers by leveraging social media and streaming hits like Netflix’s “Drive to Survive.” Reuters
Netflix’s heavy investments in its own series—rather than leaning on licensed content—come down to that kind of cultural pull. Streaming platforms now find themselves wedged right between sports, big consumer campaigns and the glare of regulators.
The catch? Franchises come with a hefty price tag, and sequels can flop. Should season two struggle to keep its audience, Netflix faces the risk of softer engagement—right when competitors are ramping up promotions and rolling out bundle deals to combat churn.
Back in January, Netflix reported it wrapped up the quarter with over 325 million paying subscribers, and put out a revenue forecast for 2026 ranging between $50.7 billion and $51.7 billion. Chief Financial Officer Spencer Neumann noted those figures bank on ad revenue swelling to roughly $3 billion—double the current level.
Next up: data from viewing figures, social buzz, and, crucially, whether “One Piece” brings the stickiness Netflix counts on from its tentpole titles—all while deal-making and belt-tightening continue across the industry.
