Seth Rogen has taken a bold stand against streaming services like Netflix over the "insane" salaries of their executives and discreet viewership numbers.
The popular actor and filmmaker shared his spicy takes on giant streamers amid the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike.
Seth Rogen Calls Out Streaming Services
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 27: Seth Rogen speaks onstage as he promotes the upcoming film "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" during the Paramount Pictures presentation during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to Variety, Rogen expressed his distress over the "secretiveness" of streaming services like Netflix about the real numbers behind the viewership of their shows.
Rogen reveals that he is "personally distressed by not having any sense of how successful these shows and movies we make for streaming services are."
ComicBook.com highlights that Rogen has a couple of shows on streaming services, largely available on Amazon Prime Video, such as "The Boys" and "Invincible." However, despite bringing his shows to services similar to Netflix, he called them out for their discrete viewership data.
The comedian adds that the "secretiveness" of these platforms on the viewership figures makes him think these giant streamers are making more money than them. The recent remarks of Rogen echo the plea of writers of Hollywood shows and movies who are now on strike braving the streets as they seek better pay.
Read Also: Hollywood Writers Strike Affected Shows: 'Stranger Things,' 'Game of Thrones,' and MORE
Rogen Says Streaming CEOs Have 'Insane' Salaries
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MAY 01: Seth Rogen attends the 2023 Milken Institute Global Conference at The Beverly Hilton on May 01, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Rogen also blasted the streaming juggernaut, pointing out that their top brass are earning exorbitant amounts. In his recent interview with Variety, he emphasized that "these executives are making insane salaries." He notes that the lucrative pay of these execs is only possible for giant firms with high profitability.
The comedian and filmmaker made these remarks as he promoted his new show on a streaming service, Apple TV+, entitled "Platonic."
As per The Daily Mail UK, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos got a significant pay bump last year, or in 2022, to be exact, of roughly 31 percent. In total, the salary of the chief exec is to the tune of $50 million, which includes his $20 million base salary alongside his stock options worth $28.5 million.
On the other hand, the Disney CEO, Bob Iger, who got back after retirement, earns $27 million per year, the Daily Mail disclosed.
Meanwhile, the CEO of Apple, which also runs a streamer, Tim Cook, is set to get paid roughly $49 million this year. It includes his $3 million salary and $6 million cash incentive. A bulk of his compensation comes from equity awards, giving him a cool $40 million.
Rogen also thanked labor unions for helping push these giant firms to pay their employees "fairly" and "equitably." The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since May 1, forcing studios and streamers to suspend the development of their shows, including Netflix's "Stranger Things."
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