Bela Bajaria Out at Netflix, Peter Rice Replaces Her as CCO
Netflix has replaced chief content officer Bela Bajaria with Peter Rice, a senior leadership change as the company seeks to refresh its programming strategy amid slower viewership growth. Co-CEO Ted Sarandos credited Bajaria with expanding unscripted programming and developing live events and sports.
Bajaria joined Netflix about a decade ago, led its television operations and became chief content officer in 2023. Rice previously held senior roles at 20th Century Fox and Disney, and most recently oversaw content for the LA28 Olympics group. The announcement follows Netflix’s reduction of 1,000 jobs, around 6 per cent of its workforce, and the departure of several other film and television executives.
- Peter Rice replaces Bela Bajaria as Netflix’s chief content officer.
- Netflix recently cut 1,000 jobs, about 6 per cent of its workforce.
- The change comes as viewership growth slows and Netflix reviews its content strategy.
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Netflix makes television and film for viewers around the world, and its chief content officer oversees the programming it commissions and acquires. The role shapes what appears on the service across scripted shows, documentaries, live events and other formats.
Bela Bajaria led Netflix’s television operations before becoming chief content officer in 2023. Peter Rice has held senior roles at 20th Century Fox and Disney, and later oversaw content for the LA28 Olympics group.
The change comes as Netflix adjusts its programming plans amid slower growth in viewership and recent job cuts. Leadership decisions matter because they can influence which kinds of programmes the company invests in and how it competes with other entertainment services.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Replacing a senior content chief can give Netflix a chance to reassess its programming strategy as viewership growth slows and the company faces pressure to sustain audience interest. Peter Rice’s experience at major film and television groups and with the LA28 Olympics could bring a different perspective, while the leadership change may help clarify priorities after recent cuts and executive departures.
The case against
A change at the top risks disrupting relationships, plans and institutional knowledge built under Bela Bajaria, whose work expanded unscripted programming and developed live events and sports. With job cuts and other departures already under way, another senior leadership change could unsettle staff and make it harder to maintain a consistent strategy; the reported slowdown in viewership does not by itself show that her leadership was the cause.