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I feel that this article describes a transitional period, not a permanent state. Streaming services are relatively new, and new technology always introduces ins

I feel that this article describes a transitional period, not a permanent state. Streaming services are relatively new, and new technology always introduces instability before everything settles into a new normal that looks somewhat like the old normal. > If the company spends time and energy on only certain audiences, the numbers fall, and that company becomes a niche; however, subscription services cannot only cater to niches, they must try to be everything to all people, which places more value on the content platform and its library than the quality of each individual piece of content. Netflix's revenue stream fell recently. I have seen analysis that this was in part due to its "quantity over quality" model. My personal opinion is that finding quality programming in Netflix is difficult, and when I cut any streaming services from my monthly budget, Netflix will be the first to go. Contrast Netflix with HBOMax and Disney+, each of which have consistently incredible quality. It may be wishful thinking, but I suspect that this transitional period will last perhaps a few more years, and then the streaming consumer will be more willing to pay a premium for true quality, in turn driving a new hit-driven normal. > subscription services cannot only cater to niches, they must try to be everything to all people There are niche streaming services. Shudder for horror, MUBI for foreign and art films, Nobudge for first-timer and low budget films. I'm certain there are or will be others.

danjac 4y ago
I wonder how much of this is due to Netflix' "algorithm" punishing promising new shows by cancelling them after season 1, or letting shows drag on way past their sell by date (Stranger Things anyone?). In the old days of network television, a new show might struggle in the ratings trying to gain its audience, but a producer might champion and protect it enough until it gains a footing. For example, Lucille Ball kept this weird little scifi show called Star Trek alive until it became the hit franchise that's still going to this day. The Netflix algorithm would have cancelled Star Trek after a season and it would have been forgotten. On the other hand, perhaps many shows got cancelled because a dumb producer just didn't get it, or there was behind-the-scenes politics where they fell out with a director or lead actor. But it seems overall that Netflix perhaps needs more of a human taste behind the scenes and less reliance on data-driven decision making.
- andirk 4y ago
  The search functionality on these services is abysmal and I believe it is on purpose; the streaming service wants you to watch the things at the top of the list they made for you, and now almost all of which is produced by that streaming service go figure.
- aftbit 4y ago
  Plenty of promising shows got cancelled after Season 1 back in the pre-streaming days too. Firefly is the quintessential example. The opposite can be worse though. Stargate SG-1 did not need 10 seasons. I think Abed had it right: 6 seasons and a movie is the ideal. Of course, once Donald Glover left, that show became a tired repeat too. I actually really liked the latest season of Stranger Things. Season 3 was the one that I really struggled with. Sure, I get that the kids are teenagers now, but why does that mean that the adults have to have dumb teenage drama too?
- fmajid 4y ago
  Netflix' decision-making is much less data-driven than you think, and much more due to the whims of Co-CEO Ted Sarandos. He fired Cindy Holland, the well-regarded head of original programming to replace her with a crony. To be frank, Netflix went from a leader to the weakest of the streaming services I subscribe to, and I hardly ever watch anything on it any more. If it weren't for my wife and daughterm, I'd have dumped them a long time ago. Amazon Prime and Disnay+ have far more compelling shows. The Netflix challenge used to be a staple of data-science students, but there's some evidence it had limited predictive power. If so, the massive data the streaming platforms have compared to Hollywood does not give them an edge in finding hits that will keep subscribers from defecting in a recession (contrary to the article, I don't believe breadth and volume of irrelevant content matters, if anything it has negative value because that means more dross I have to scan over to find the rare shows I am actually interested in watching).
rickdeckard 4y ago
> _Contrast Netflix with HBOMax and Disney+, each of which have consistently incredible quality._ Agree on HBO, but I wouldn't be able to tell with such certainty whether Disney+ has consistently higher quality than Netflix, or Disney+ has simply the benefit of owning almost all recognizable world-building IP in the industry (Disney itself, Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, plus everything they acquired when they acquired FOX). For example: Not being a die-hard Star Wars Fan and being oversaturated with the Marvel franchise for years now, content from these universes on Disney+ is in no way of higher quality to me than comparable-size content of Netflix i.e. Stranger Things, Mindhunter, Peaky Blinders,... I find myself increasingly browsing Disney+ like "oh, interesting!...maybe another time...", but that might be just me. In addition, I keep noticing how Disney+ is producing big-budget series which end up with only ~8 20-30min episodes, whereas Netflix and HBO still consider ~50mins to be the minimum.
- moonchrome 4y ago
  I feel like Disney+ value is family/children content. Marvel and Star Wars are beaten to death.
  - bombcar 4y ago
    Disney+ is for kids I’d say. The absolute wealth of that back catalog is insane. However they’re hard pressed at the bottom by YouTube two hour repeat videos of Baby Shark (the absolute most watched video in history - https://youtu.be/XqZsoesa55w https://youtu.be/XqZsoesa55w - 12 billion )
- omgmajk 4y ago
  I mean, except HBO keeps pruning its library lately. Raised by Wolves and Westworld just disappeared for example and that made me quite annoyed.
  - LegitShady 4y ago
    westworld beyond season 2 was a dumpster fire anyways. an obvious example of poor long term plans.

danjac 4y ago

I wonder how much of this is due to Netflix' "algorithm" punishing promising new shows by cancelling them after season 1, or letting shows drag on way past their sell by date (Stranger Things anyone?). In the old days of network television, a new show might struggle in the ratings trying to gain its audience, but a producer might champion and protect it enough until it gains a footing. For example, Lucille Ball kept this weird little scifi show called Star Trek alive until it became the hit franchise that's still going to this day. The Netflix algorithm would have cancelled Star Trek after a season and it would have been forgotten. On the other hand, perhaps many shows got cancelled because a dumb producer just didn't get it, or there was behind-the-scenes politics where they fell out with a director or lead actor. But it seems overall that Netflix perhaps needs more of a human taste behind the scenes and less reliance on data-driven decision making.

andirk 4y ago
The search functionality on these services is abysmal and I believe it is on purpose; the streaming service wants you to watch the things at the top of the list they made for you, and now almost all of which is produced by that streaming service go figure.
aftbit 4y ago
Plenty of promising shows got cancelled after Season 1 back in the pre-streaming days too. Firefly is the quintessential example. The opposite can be worse though. Stargate SG-1 did not need 10 seasons. I think Abed had it right: 6 seasons and a movie is the ideal. Of course, once Donald Glover left, that show became a tired repeat too. I actually really liked the latest season of Stranger Things. Season 3 was the one that I really struggled with. Sure, I get that the kids are teenagers now, but why does that mean that the adults have to have dumb teenage drama too?
fmajid 4y ago
Netflix' decision-making is much less data-driven than you think, and much more due to the whims of Co-CEO Ted Sarandos. He fired Cindy Holland, the well-regarded head of original programming to replace her with a crony. To be frank, Netflix went from a leader to the weakest of the streaming services I subscribe to, and I hardly ever watch anything on it any more. If it weren't for my wife and daughterm, I'd have dumped them a long time ago. Amazon Prime and Disnay+ have far more compelling shows. The Netflix challenge used to be a staple of data-science students, but there's some evidence it had limited predictive power. If so, the massive data the streaming platforms have compared to Hollywood does not give them an edge in finding hits that will keep subscribers from defecting in a recession (contrary to the article, I don't believe breadth and volume of irrelevant content matters, if anything it has negative value because that means more dross I have to scan over to find the rare shows I am actually interested in watching).

rickdeckard 4y ago

> _Contrast Netflix with HBOMax and Disney+, each of which have consistently incredible quality._ Agree on HBO, but I wouldn't be able to tell with such certainty whether Disney+ has consistently higher quality than Netflix, or Disney+ has simply the benefit of owning almost all recognizable world-building IP in the industry (Disney itself, Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, plus everything they acquired when they acquired FOX). For example: Not being a die-hard Star Wars Fan and being oversaturated with the Marvel franchise for years now, content from these universes on Disney+ is in no way of higher quality to me than comparable-size content of Netflix i.e. Stranger Things, Mindhunter, Peaky Blinders,... I find myself increasingly browsing Disney+ like "oh, interesting!...maybe another time...", but that might be just me. In addition, I keep noticing how Disney+ is producing big-budget series which end up with only ~8 20-30min episodes, whereas Netflix and HBO still consider ~50mins to be the minimum.

moonchrome 4y ago
I feel like Disney+ value is family/children content. Marvel and Star Wars are beaten to death.
- bombcar 4y ago
  Disney+ is for kids I’d say. The absolute wealth of that back catalog is insane. However they’re hard pressed at the bottom by YouTube two hour repeat videos of Baby Shark (the absolute most watched video in history - https://youtu.be/XqZsoesa55w https://youtu.be/XqZsoesa55w - 12 billion )
omgmajk 4y ago
I mean, except HBO keeps pruning its library lately. Raised by Wolves and Westworld just disappeared for example and that made me quite annoyed.
- LegitShady 4y ago
  westworld beyond season 2 was a dumpster fire anyways. an obvious example of poor long term plans.