Netflix Inc. may have a hard time topping its mammoth 2024, but Wall Street is optimistic about offerings that include major names in entertainment and sports.

The economy and the markets are "under surveillance" as we cover the latest in finance, economics and investment.

New year, new price hikes. Netflix revealed it's jacking up subscription prices in the U.S., Canada, Portugal, and Argentina — including the first increase of its ad-supported plan. Starting today, the cheapest Netflix plan will cost $7.99 per month, while the premium subscription with 4K streaming will set you back $24.99 a month.

Netflix’s cheapest plan in the US with ads will go from $6.99 to $7.99 per month, while its priciest subscription is nearly $25.

In Q4 2024, Netflix gained more subscribers than it ever has in a single quarter, buoyed by live sporting events and a new season of one of its most popular series, Squid Game. The streaming platform added 18.91 million subscribers for a total of 301.63 million. Netflix has said it will not report quarterly subscriber numbers in future reports.

Netflix ( NFLX) is set to report its fiscal fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday after market close. Analysts expect the streamer to deliver strong results after it ended the year with two back-to-back NFL games, a successful "Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson" boxing match, and the return of "Squid Game."

The success of WWE’s Monday Night Raw gives the streaming service muscle for favorable terms on full seasons of big-league games.

Leanne Loombe, who helped build out Netflix’s growing game portfolio, will join Annapurna Interactive as executive vice president and head of games.

As TikTok faces a potential ban, various bidders, including Elon Musk and Larry Ellison, are key contenders to buy the platform. Meanwhile, Netflix remains a possible option among streaming giants, though the company has not historically pursued major acquisitions.

The app, which was set to be banned, now has a bit more time to find a home and address national security issues

Masayoshi Son founded SoftBank in 1981. It has invested millions in some of Silicon Valley's biggest tech companies.