Netflix expands YouTube strategy with Alan Chikin Chow, Nick DiGiovanni deals (update*)

Netflix has expanded its push into creator-led programming, striking new agreements with YouTube stars Alan Chikin Chow and Nick DiGiovanni that will bring their content to the streaming platform while continuing to premiere on YouTube.

According to Deadline, Netflix has licensed Alan's Universe, Chow's scripted high school anthology series, with its existing library and new episodes launching on Netflix the same day they are released on YouTube.

The publication also reported that Netflix has reached a similar agreement with chef and YouTuber Nick DiGiovanni, bringing his existing library and future content to the platform.

Chow, the world's most-watched YouTube Shorts creator, averages between one billion and 1.5 billion monthly views. DiGiovanni, meanwhile, has built an audience of more than 60 million followers across social media through cooking content and collaborations with celebrities including Gordon Ramsay and Selena Gomez.

The agreements are the latest in a series of creator partnerships announced by Netflix this year.

In January, Netflix commissioned a scripted K-pop series from Chow in partnership with HYBE America, alongside an unscripted series starring Alix Earle. More recently, it has announced creator partnerships with Jay Shetty, Sean Evans and the Stokes Twins.

The announcements came as Netflix published its second-quarter results, showing members watched more than 97 billion hours in the first half of 2026, up 2% year-on-year.

The streamer, which has published its What We Watched report twice a year alongside its weekly Top 10 lists since December 2023, said it would discontinue the biannual report after this release in favour of an annual update beginning in 2027. Netflix said publishing the report separately from its earnings would keep the focus on financial metrics such as revenue and operating profit.

*This article was updated at 12:15 GMT to include details from Netflix's second-quarter earnings and engagement report.