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Don't you think maybe Netflix knows something you don't that led them to make that decision despite the "outcry"? They HAVE to have validated the autoplay appro

Don't you think maybe Netflix knows something you don't that led them to make that decision despite the "outcry"? They HAVE to have validated the autoplay approach with some data that proves it achieves some goal of theirs. The fact that they have enough conviction in their data to stick with autoplay despite the bad press should be a very good sign about a company's culture (and therefore their future).

dreamcompiler 7y ago
Autoplay smells very much like a Netflix vice president's pet project. Everybody hates it but it's politically impossible within Netflix to kill it until that vice president leaves. See Google+.
- washadjeffmad 7y ago
  I'm inclined to agree. A big part of my satisfaction with Prime is simply being able to read the descriptions and explore the metadata, leading me to something I might really enjoy without a preview hijacking my sensorium. What Netflix does is stressful and makes me avoid engaging with their catalog. It's insane they won't let us control that one aspect. My second frustration was when they crippled their catalog API, forcing abetterqueue offline. I'd plan my entire season around that, and now I feel like I only have what their algorithm recommends to my TV's app, which is usually garbage because my SO and I share an account. Prime is far from perfect, but it does less wrong, and what that tells me is that maybe Netflix isn't for me.
jdminhbg 7y ago
> They HAVE to have validated the autoplay approach with some data that proves it achieves some goal of theirs. I don't necessarily agree that they're "circling the drain" as GP put it, but hitting a goal can definitely be a sign that a company is in trouble. Autoplay videos might net them some short-term viewership at the expense of long-term goodwill and engagement.
- ALittleLight 7y ago
  Being a slave to analytics can lead you to local maximums. "We have n ads. A/B testing shows we'll increase revenue with n+1." Over time you'll have more ads and less revenue. I don't have an opinion regarding Netflix. Ironically, I cancelled it a while ago after realizing I watched more on Amazon.
kkarakk 7y ago
Mcdonalds knows that the VAST MAJORITY of the populace goes to McD for fries,nuggets,burgers and shakes but still has salads and healthier food on it's menu now for people who don't want to. I don't see how putting a toggle in their app to turn off all these things is such a major change. This is like snapchat "i don't care about android" levels of tech stupidity/laziness
stubish 7y ago
Maybe they validated the autoplay approach and it won on some metric, but I think it is the wrong metric to optimize for. I don't think it the one which counts, monthly renewals. I seriously doubt there are people who stick around because of autoplay, but there are certainly people who quit because of it. Maybe the people who stick around do manage to find the next show to watch a few minutes faster with autoplay, but it isn't worth losing paying customers over.

dreamcompiler 7y ago

Autoplay smells very much like a Netflix vice president's pet project. Everybody hates it but it's politically impossible within Netflix to kill it until that vice president leaves. See Google+.

washadjeffmad 7y ago
I'm inclined to agree. A big part of my satisfaction with Prime is simply being able to read the descriptions and explore the metadata, leading me to something I might really enjoy without a preview hijacking my sensorium. What Netflix does is stressful and makes me avoid engaging with their catalog. It's insane they won't let us control that one aspect. My second frustration was when they crippled their catalog API, forcing abetterqueue offline. I'd plan my entire season around that, and now I feel like I only have what their algorithm recommends to my TV's app, which is usually garbage because my SO and I share an account. Prime is far from perfect, but it does less wrong, and what that tells me is that maybe Netflix isn't for me.

jdminhbg 7y ago

> They HAVE to have validated the autoplay approach with some data that proves it achieves some goal of theirs. I don't necessarily agree that they're "circling the drain" as GP put it, but hitting a goal can definitely be a sign that a company is in trouble. Autoplay videos might net them some short-term viewership at the expense of long-term goodwill and engagement.

ALittleLight 7y ago
Being a slave to analytics can lead you to local maximums. "We have n ads. A/B testing shows we'll increase revenue with n+1." Over time you'll have more ads and less revenue. I don't have an opinion regarding Netflix. Ironically, I cancelled it a while ago after realizing I watched more on Amazon.

kkarakk 7y ago

Mcdonalds knows that the VAST MAJORITY of the populace goes to McD for fries,nuggets,burgers and shakes but still has salads and healthier food on it's menu now for people who don't want to. I don't see how putting a toggle in their app to turn off all these things is such a major change. This is like snapchat "i don't care about android" levels of tech stupidity/laziness

stubish 7y ago

Maybe they validated the autoplay approach and it won on some metric, but I think it is the wrong metric to optimize for. I don't think it the one which counts, monthly renewals. I seriously doubt there are people who stick around because of autoplay, but there are certainly people who quit because of it. Maybe the people who stick around do manage to find the next show to watch a few minutes faster with autoplay, but it isn't worth losing paying customers over.