“Hot Ones” may be coming to Netflix

Netflix may be comin’ in hot with its newest deal. The media giant is in talks with Buzzfeed to acquire Hot Ones for a potential live series, according to a recent Bloomberg report.

A successful formula: The show with hot questions and even hotter wings has a knack for unlocking vulnerability in some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, while host Sean Evans has gained a reputation as a great interviewer.

And this combo has translated into a lot of eyeballs. The show’s YouTube channel has 14 million subscribers, and episodes routinely attract 5+ million viewers.

In the know: Buzzfeed has reportedly been trying to sell First We Feast, the food-focused media brand company that owns Hot Ones, for months, but its asking price of $70 million has been too steep for potential buyers. Buzzfeed says First We Feast is profitable, and generates ~$30 million in annual revenue.

Netflix’s idea: While talks are still underway, the streaming giant is aiming to introduce the show as a live program, rather than pre-recorded content.

👀 Zoom out: Netflix’s possible acquisition of the show comes in the midst of its “fast ramp” into live programming, as outlined on its Q2 earnings call. Other streaming platforms like Hulu and Amazon Prime have also been increasingly adding live programming to their platforms.