<div id="readability-page-1"><div><div>Actor Seth Rogen stood his ground against Apple Inc. AAPL executives, insisting on a surprising Netflix Inc. NFLX cameo in his Apple TV+ comedy series despite the company's push for its own CEO.What Happened: Rogen's The Studio is packed with celebrity cameos, but one guest star raised eyebrows even inside Apple's own boardrooms. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos appears as himself in episode eight of the series, which aired on Wednesday, reported Business Insider.&#34;They asked if we could use Tim Cook instead, and we said no,&#34; Rogen told the publication at the red carpet premiere of The Studio during the SXSW Film &amp; TV Festival in March.Why It's Important: Rogen's decision to feature Sarandos, a top executive at Apple's biggest streaming rival, speaks volumes about the current streaming landscape.While Netflix has soared past 300 million subscribers and turned a once money-losing operation into a profitable empire, Apple TV+ remains a costly experiment, the report said.<div>Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.Reports suggest Apple is losing over $1 billion per year on the streaming service, with an estimated 45 million subscribers — a fraction of Netflix's audience.</div>Netflix reported first-quarter revenue of $10.54 billion, marking a 12.5% increase compared to the same period last year. The figure came in slightly above the Street consensus estimate of $10.52 billion.Apple, on the other hand, posted fiscal second-quarter revenue of $95.36 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $94.53 billion.Price Action: According to Benzinga Pro, Apple shares have declined 19.01% year-to-date, while Netflix shares have gained 29.06% over the same period.Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings gives Netflix a strong growth score of 70.01%, underscoring its robust market momentum. Click here to see how it compares to Apple and other leading stocks.Check out more of Benzinga’s Consumer Tech coverage by following this link.<ul> <li>Bob Iger Admits Marvel Lost Focus By Making Too Much Content, Saying ‘Quantity Does Not Necessarily Beget Quality’ — Here’s What Disney Plans To Do Now</li> </ul>Image Via Shutterstock</div></div></div>

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Actor Seth Rogen rejected a cameo from Apple CEO Tim Cook in favor of Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos for his Apple TV+ series, The Studio. Rogen's choice highlights the competitive streaming landscape, with Netflix boasting over 300 million subscribers and significant profits, while Apple TV+ reportedly loses over $1 billion annually with only 45 million subscribers. In Q1, Netflix's revenue reached $10.54 billion, while Apple's fiscal second-quarter revenue was $95.36 billion. Year-to-date, Apple shares have fallen 19.01%, while Netflix shares have risen 29.06%.

- Actor Seth Rogen insisted on featuring Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos in his Apple TV+ series, The Studio, despite Apple's preference for its own CEO, Tim Cook.  
- This decision highlights the competitive streaming landscape, where Netflix has over 300 million subscribers and is profitable, while Apple TV+ reportedly loses over $1 billion annually with only 45 million subscribers.  
- In the first quarter, Netflix reported revenue of $10.54 billion, while Apple posted $95.36 billion in fiscal second-quarter revenue, exceeding analyst expectations.

Tim Cook's Apple TV+ Cameo Rejected By Seth Rogen, Opts For Netflix's Ted Sarandos Instead: 'We Said No'