200 million Nigerians, only 3,000 Subscriptions – AY opens up on Netflix’s Struggles in Nigeria

Popular comedian and actor AY Makun has offered his perspective on the recent uproar surrounding Netflix’s alleged pullback from funding Nigerian original movies. The debate was sparked by filmmaker Kunle Afolayan’s claim that Netflix had stopped commissioning Nigerian originals, igniting concerns about the streaming giant’s commitment to Africa’s largest film industry.

Speaking in an interview with Nollywood on Radio, AY refuted claims that Netflix is abandoning the Nigerian market. Instead, he believes the company is reevaluating its business approach due to financial challenges.

According to AY, Netflix’s investment in the Nigerian market has outpaced its revenue, prompting a need to restructure its operations. He identified subscription sharing and low subscription rates as major factors contributing to the company’s struggles in Nigeria.

“With a population of over 200 million, Nigeria has an estimated 3,000 Netflix subscribers. This shows a significant gap, as many Nigerians are accessing Netflix content through shared subscriptions rather than purchasing individual accounts,” AY explained.

The comedian shared insights from a recent meeting with Netflix, where the streaming service expressed continued interest in collaborating on Nigerian projects. “It was never mentioned to me that Netflix is opting out of the Nigerian market. In fact, we discussed my next project and how they could be involved,” he revealed.

AY dismissed the notion of an exit, emphasizing that the streaming giant is merely adjusting its strategy. “If you’re running a business in a region where you’re spending more than you’re earning, you would naturally re-strategize. That’s what Netflix is doing.”

He urged Nigerians to address the issue of subscription sharing, which he described as a significant challenge for Netflix’s operations in the country. “A single subscription being shared by several people is part of the problem. This isn’t about the filmmakers—it’s about us as Nigerians. The leakage needs to be corrected,” AY concluded.