Former YouTube executive Susanne Daniels says the platform "didn't know what to do" with Cobra Kai, the karate drama that became a massive hit after moving to Netflix. Daniels, who led YouTube's original content strategy before leaving in 2022, made the comment at the Monte Carlo TV Festival.
YouTube was unable to nurture the show effectively, according to Daniels. The series eventually found success on Netflix after YouTube failed to capitalize on it.
Daniels predicts YouTube will return to commissioning original content. According to reporting from Deadline Hollywood, the veteran television executive believes the platform will reverse course as streaming competition intensifies.
YouTube stepped back from original programming as Netflix and Disney+ invested billions in prestige content. For Daniels, the decision represented a strategic error.
If YouTube does resume making originals, the platform will need executives capable of supporting breakout hits. Whether that happens remains uncertain.
