Netflix opens up shop with Walmart

Netflix Hub marks the streamer's first digital storefront with a national retailer, and features product ranges for Waffles and Mochi and Ada Twist, Scientist.

By Elizabeth Foster

October 12, 2021

Netflix is partnering with Walmart to launch a branded online hub—the largest dedicated shopping destination for the streamer’s merchandise in the US. This partnership marks Netflix’s first digital storefront with a national retailer.

Exclusive products inspired by shows like Waffles and Mochi, CoComelon and Ada Twist, Scientist are now available on the Netflix Hub. The ranges currently include items such as dolls, playsets and publishing, and new items will continue to be released over the next few months.

Additionally, the online storefront will feature a crowd-sourcing opportunity called Netflix Fan Select, which will allow fans to vote on which products they’d like to see next.

Despite speculation about whether or not the streaming giant could translate its views into merchandise revenue, the streamer has been building its consumer products strategy for years. Netflix hired Jess Richardson as director of global licensing, merchandising and promotions in 2017. Then in 2018, Christie Fleischer joined as global head of consumer products, with Josh Simon taking on a VP of consumer products role when she departed in 2019. Following Simon’s appointment, Netflix launched its first owned-and-operated retail outlet to sell products directly to consumers. Netflix.shop sells exclusive, limited-edition apparel and lifestyle products inspired by the streamer’s shows.

Trailer: ‘Ada Twist, Scientist’ Brings the Formula for Fun to Netflix

Netflix today unveiled the official trailer and first-look images for Ada Twist, Scientist — the new CG-animated 6 x 26′ series from master of kids’ TV chemistry Chris Nee, showrunner Kerri Grant, Barack & Michelle Obama’s production company Higher Ground and Wonder Worldwide. The show debuts September 28 exclusively on the streamer, but families can dabble in Ada’s experiments by watching Episode 3 on the Netflix Jr. YouTube channel now.

Based on the best-selling picture book series, Ada Twist, Scientist follows the adventures of eight-year-old Ada Twist, a pint-sized scientist with a giant-sized curiosity, who aspires to discover the truth about absolutely everything. With the help of her two best friends, Rosie Revere and Iggy Peck, Ada unravels and solves mysteries for her friends and family. But solving the mystery is only the beginning, because science isn’t just about learning how and why and what… it’s about putting that knowledge into action to make the world a better place.

The series voice cast features Taye Diggs as Dad Twist, Susan Kelechi Watson as Mom Twist, Amanda Christine as Ada Twist, Candace Kozak as Rosie Revere, Nicholas Crovetti as Iggy Peck, and Terrence Little Gardenhigh as Arthur Twist.

Nee developed the series and executive produces under her Laughing Wild banner. Grant serves as showrunner and co-exec producer. Additional executive producers are Mark Burton (Wonder Worldwide), Tonia Davis and Priya Swaminathan (Higher Ground), Andrea Beaty and David Roberts (author and illustrator of Ada Twist, Scientist, respectively).

WATCH The First Episode of ADA TWIST SCIENTIST

Trailer: ‘Ada Twist, Scientist’ Brings Courageous Curiosity to Netflix This Fall

Netflix has released the official teaser for Ada Twist, Scientist — one of the new series developed for the platform by Emmy, Peabody and Humanitas Prize-winning producer Chris Nee (Doc McStuffins, Vampirina) debuting this year. The exciting experiments of the young scientist and her friends will launch September 28 with six ~26 min. episodes.

Based on the best-selling picture book series, Ada Twist, Scientist is a CG-animated series that follows the adventures of eight-year-old Ada Twist, a pint-sized scientist with a giant-sized curiosity, who aspires to discover the truth about absolutely everything. With the help of her two best friends, Rosie Revere and Iggy Peck, Ada unravels and solves mysteries for her friends and family. But solving the mystery is only the beginning, because science isn’t just about learning how and why and what… it’s about putting that knowledge into action to make the world a better place.

The animated preschool series is from Nee, Higher Ground and Wonder Worldwide. Kerri Grant (writer, Doc McStuffins, Mira, Royal Detective) serves as showrunner and co-exec producer. Executive producers are Nee (Laughing Wild), Mark Burton (Wonder Worldwide), Tonia Davis and Priya Swaminathan (Higher Ground), Andrea Beaty (author, Ada Twist, Scientist) and David Roberts (illustrator, Ada Twist, Scientist).

www.netflix.com/adatwistscientist

Christmas Chronicles 2 Draws 61M In Its First 4 Weeks

Netflix’s Christmas push has paid off it seems, drawing big numbers for two of its festive titles – Holidate and The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two.

The streamer revealed that Emma Roberts’ Holidate was watched by 68M households in its first 28 days, while Kurt Russell’s The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two was watched by 61M.

They are the latest feature film figures released by the streamer, which said that George Clooney’s The Midnight Sky was set to be watched by 72M in the same period and We Can Be Heroes had a projected audience of 53M.

Animated feature Over the Moon, directed by Glen Keane, was watched by 43M, with the streamer saying that the film had “high levels of rewatching” and Just Another Christmas, the Brazilian original holiday film starring Leandro Hassum was watched by 26M households since its launch.

Separately, Netflix claimed that more households watched season four of The Crown in its first 28 days than each of the prior seasons. The streamer, however, didn’t break out season four viewing figures but said that more than 100M households had watched the Left Bank-produced drama since its debut.

Last January, it claimed that the royal drama was watched by 21M households in its first four weeks with a total of 72M households having watched since 2016.

Other international viewing figures include Korean-language horror series Sweet Home, which was watched by 22M and Alice in Borderland, a sci-fi thriller from Japan, that secured 18M.

This comes after it revealed earlier today that French heist drama was a breakout hit with a projection of 70M households set to watch.