Plus: Verizon offers outage credit; bots and misinformation run wild amid Iran crisis.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently gave a lengthy interview to the New York Times, shared in a Q&A format. He weighed in on Netflix’s strategy, its growing influence in Hollywood and how the company thinks about movies, theaters, and critics ahead of its deal to acquire Warner Bros.
In the interview, Sarandos comes across confident and understanding He framed criticism as a perception problem, saying critics are looking at Netflix through “a very narrow lens” and missing the bigger picture of what the company is trying to do. He positioned Netflix as audience-first, arguing that the goal is to give people more ways to enjoy movies, not fewer. For example:” I did not get in this business to hurt the theatrical business. I got into this business to help consumers, to help movie fans.”
Sarandos also made a concrete commitment, saying Netflix plans to keep a 45-day theatrical window for Warner Bros. films. This is a way of signaling that Netflix isn’t trying to eliminate theaters overnight and understands why the big-screen experience still matters.
Still, there were some shakier parts of the interview. At one point, Sarandos said, “I have a great relationship with theater owners.” The reporter immediately countered this: “They just went to Congress to tell them how bad this deal would be for them,” which made Sarandos look either oblivious or evasive. In several instances, it took asking a question in multiple ways for Sarandos to directly answer.
Why it matters: Q&A-style interviews like this allow executives to explain context and nuance, which is ideal for strategy-level discussions. They can state their message directly and delve into details.
But these formats can also catch executives off-guard with rapid follow-ups and hard-hitting questions, which can be risky if the topic is sensitive or nuanced, as this acquisition bid certainly is.
Sarandos did some things well. First, he grounded his comments in values like choice, access and audience experience, rather than profit or disruption. That helps soften skepticism. Second, he gives mostly specific answers instead of platitudes. Saying “45 days” is much more reassuring than saying “we care about theaters.” Specifics help build credibility.
The tone also helps. Sarandos doesn’t attack critics. He explains Netflix’s thinking in a steady, measured way.
That said, the interview isn’t perfect. Saying critics “misunderstand” Netflix risks coming off as dismissive. For people already worried about Netflix’s power, that phrasing can feel like the company is brushing off legitimate concerns instead of engaging with them.
Different formats put executives in different lights. Choosing the right one can shape whether an executive sounds thoughtful, defensive, dismissive or genuinely open to criticism.
The same message can feel calm and credible in print, casual on a podcast or combative on a panel. Choosing the right format and preparing specifically for how it frames tone, often matters as much as the message itself.
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- Verizon experienced a major nationwide wireless outage Wednesday, with many customers couldn’t make calls, send texts or use mobile data for about 10 hours. Users reported their phones often showed only an “SOS” or emergency-only signal, and some emergency services alerts even warned people to use other carriers to call 911, Mashable reportsThe company said on X: “Today, we let many of our customers down and for that, we are truly sorry. They expect more from us. We are working non-stop and making progress. Our teams will continue to work through the night until service is restored for all impacted customers. We will make this right – for any customer affected, we will provide account credits and share updates soon.” They followed this message with another update and told affected customers they would receive a $20 credit to make up for the lost service. Verizon’s response hit the core things customers and the public expect in a crisis: acknowledgment, accountability and action. They didn’t pretend the outage was minor. They publicly admitted there was a widespread problem, apologized and released updates frequently. A clear “this is on us” message helps calm the situation instead of making it worse. Just as important, Verizon paired words with action. Offering an automatic $20 credit through the app showed they understood customers lost more than just convenience.
- The NYT reports that since the Iranian government implemented a near-total communications blackout, there’s been an uptick in bot accounts on X sharing old, partial or entirely fake videos of what’s happening on the ground. And these clips are getting engagement. For PR and comms pros, this is a clear warning sign. Information gaps are bot fuel. When there’s no steady stream of verified updates, bots can flood platforms with content that feels authoritative simply because it’s loud and repeated. Algorithms reward volume and engagement, not necessarily accuracy, so bot-driven narratives can quickly become the top story even if they’re wrong. If your organization, brand or spokesperson isn’t actively communicating during moments of uncertainty, something else could fill that space and damage control will be imminent.
- Hershey’s is pouring more energy into modern, attention-grabbing marketing for its, something it hasn’t done in almost a decade, the Wall Street Journal That includes boosting its overall ad budget by about 20%, launching campaigns timed with cultural moments like the Olympics and America250, leaning into TikTok influencers and live events, and staging limited drops such as a Dubai-inspired chocolate bar. These moves are designed to extend the brand beyond its usual seasonal focus and reach new, trend-seeking audiences “Across the whole portfolio we are going to be ensuring that we have options that push the envelope a little more, deliver texture, deliver flavor, in a way that’s new and unique,” Stacy Taffet, Hershey’s chief growth officer, told the outlet. This move is about making a legacy brand feel relevant again for a new audience by using social-media friendly activations to generate both digital conversation and traditional press coverage. Limited-edition drops create FOMO and share-worthy moments that travel fast on TikTok and Instagram. They’re creating moments people want to talk about, tag, meme and post about, which drives earned media and brand mentions in places their audiences are already consuming content.
Courtney Blackann is a communications reporter. Connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at courtneyb@ragan.com.
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