Netflix's problem isn't just unique to streaming, though. It's the core problem with growth-obsessed capitalism, where sustainable metrics like profit or churn are secondary to the shell game of "constant growth." You can't create satisfying art in that environment, much less a viable customer service model.
Im stupid optimistic, and I believe that we're going to consume a lot more indie films and TV. The internet is democratizing everything. Look at the success of Obsession and Backrooms and A24. The behemoth companies can't change fast enough, and they obviously know very little about what theyre selling versus what people want.
People want real life experiences. We want connection and community, and independent creators are not separated from us by massive clueless conglomerates. The supply of content far exceeds the demand. Overvalued tech that produces nothing but abstractions is about to shrink. A lot.
Plenty of open source software, and alternatives to the big platforms out there. The more people step away from it, the more people will step away.
We're well on our way to an open source/conglomerate division. Those who prioritize convenience will keep using big tech and being exploited. Those who prioritize agency will do things the hard way, and be better off for it.
“But their nightmare is our blessing. That’s because the end of audience capture means tech companies will need to return to serving customers, not holding them in bondage. “
And
“If I’m right, this may represent the biggest shift in the consumer economy of our time”
IMHO people are unsubscribing for two reasons - shit shows and we're broke. Priorities are getting adjusted for the shitty economic times too many of us are facing
Isn’t “Captured” a version of “Free”? Drug dealers are well versed in the concept. Microsoft lured us with free until Word became a standard, then a purchase, then a subscription. Pro Tools was a purchase until became ubiquitous and a subscription. But the streamer solution is an old one: produce a hit. We’ll be buying the rare series we want to binge and pass on the subscription.
Ted - The larger discovery might be that We the People have decided to spend less time of our precious day on screened, pay per view or streaming entertainment. How about the declining quality of the programming...sex, violence, foul language, inhuman actions, etc. etc.
My thinking is that the viewing public, once attracted to even "well scripted" violence a la Sopranos, has grown very weary of the smack and bam, you're dead scripts.
This is good news indeed! This cranky woman repeatedly laments that "watching TV has become so hard." Glad to hear that the supposed wave of the future isn't working out so well.
But... the shareholders!! What about the infinite growth they were promised? Cancer doesn't care if infinite growth kills its host - for cancer, that's a win... but finance capitalism seems to think they can have their cake and eat it too. Something here about chickens and roosting.
I respectfully disagree. It's not the end of "audience capture." It's the end of audience capture done badly. And, arrogantly. The audience is, largely, still out there wanting to be entertained. But, content simply for the sake of content won't get the job done. Comedians need to be funny again. Dramas need to be interesting. We need characters we can root for. And against. Marshalls and Dutton Ranch were sorely lacking as successors to Yellowstone. Thinking that you can just foist whatever slop you want to put out there and that audiences will stay tuned won't cut it anymore. Nowadays, when my wife goes out, I turn off the TV. Broadcast, cable, streaming, etc. has a much harder time interesting me these days. But, I might be the exception to the rule.
I love this kind of article. I would never know about this if it wasn't for your postings. And your presentation of the facts is so honest and down to earth, and amusing at points too where appropriate. Your observations are well-informed, insightful and human. I don't often read the news, let alone about media, culture and the like. So I thank you for bringing this information to me in this thoughtful and entertaining way.
You are totally correct. The only question is -When & How much Blood will be shed.
The "Captains of Industry" literally do not remember the Dot Com farce. I remember one of them right before the bust bragging in one of the Free Industry Rags that they had defeated Downturns/Depressions & all that nonsense. Those days were over ... what a Laugh !
Several weeks ago, Netflix also lost the rights to one of the most successful streaming shows of all time: Gilmore Girls. A show that came out 26 years ago. I do wonder if you saw a bunch of people unsubscribe after that.
Netflix's problem isn't just unique to streaming, though. It's the core problem with growth-obsessed capitalism, where sustainable metrics like profit or churn are secondary to the shell game of "constant growth." You can't create satisfying art in that environment, much less a viable customer service model.
Corey Doctorow calls this process “enshittification ” and literally wrote the book on it.
Is this an indication that perhaps companies are learning they should be customer-driven and not the other way around?
NO. These Morons think They are smarter than anyone else on the Planet. Nothing in Reality applies to Them.
Then a plague upon their houses.
Depends what their employee’s bonus and/or stock options look like at the end of the year.
No their contempt for their customers is too deep. They still think "the plebs and peasants" are stupid
Im stupid optimistic, and I believe that we're going to consume a lot more indie films and TV. The internet is democratizing everything. Look at the success of Obsession and Backrooms and A24. The behemoth companies can't change fast enough, and they obviously know very little about what theyre selling versus what people want.
People want real life experiences. We want connection and community, and independent creators are not separated from us by massive clueless conglomerates. The supply of content far exceeds the demand. Overvalued tech that produces nothing but abstractions is about to shrink. A lot.
I agree but all of what we need happenhas to come from outside of the current tech ecosystem.
It can be done, though.
Plenty of open source software, and alternatives to the big platforms out there. The more people step away from it, the more people will step away.
We're well on our way to an open source/conglomerate division. Those who prioritize convenience will keep using big tech and being exploited. Those who prioritize agency will do things the hard way, and be better off for it.
Great info, thanks.
Now that tech is seen as The Man, everyone now sees that The Man is Holding Us Down.
A welcome shift in public perception.
My two favorite passages from this:
“But their nightmare is our blessing. That’s because the end of audience capture means tech companies will need to return to serving customers, not holding them in bondage. “
And
“If I’m right, this may represent the biggest shift in the consumer economy of our time”
— this is power to the people!
IMHO people are unsubscribing for two reasons - shit shows and we're broke. Priorities are getting adjusted for the shitty economic times too many of us are facing
Isn’t “Captured” a version of “Free”? Drug dealers are well versed in the concept. Microsoft lured us with free until Word became a standard, then a purchase, then a subscription. Pro Tools was a purchase until became ubiquitous and a subscription. But the streamer solution is an old one: produce a hit. We’ll be buying the rare series we want to binge and pass on the subscription.
Yes, the free stuff online is just a variant on audience capture—and maybe its most dangerous version.
Ted - The larger discovery might be that We the People have decided to spend less time of our precious day on screened, pay per view or streaming entertainment. How about the declining quality of the programming...sex, violence, foul language, inhuman actions, etc. etc.
But The Sopranos is top quality programming and has all those things…
My thinking is that the viewing public, once attracted to even "well scripted" violence a la Sopranos, has grown very weary of the smack and bam, you're dead scripts.
This is good news indeed! This cranky woman repeatedly laments that "watching TV has become so hard." Glad to hear that the supposed wave of the future isn't working out so well.
Netflix does not offer an annual plan, unlike almost everyone else. I don’t know how long this has been true or if it means anything in particular.
But... the shareholders!! What about the infinite growth they were promised? Cancer doesn't care if infinite growth kills its host - for cancer, that's a win... but finance capitalism seems to think they can have their cake and eat it too. Something here about chickens and roosting.
I respectfully disagree. It's not the end of "audience capture." It's the end of audience capture done badly. And, arrogantly. The audience is, largely, still out there wanting to be entertained. But, content simply for the sake of content won't get the job done. Comedians need to be funny again. Dramas need to be interesting. We need characters we can root for. And against. Marshalls and Dutton Ranch were sorely lacking as successors to Yellowstone. Thinking that you can just foist whatever slop you want to put out there and that audiences will stay tuned won't cut it anymore. Nowadays, when my wife goes out, I turn off the TV. Broadcast, cable, streaming, etc. has a much harder time interesting me these days. But, I might be the exception to the rule.
Yup. Comedians being funny. There's a concept.
I love this kind of article. I would never know about this if it wasn't for your postings. And your presentation of the facts is so honest and down to earth, and amusing at points too where appropriate. Your observations are well-informed, insightful and human. I don't often read the news, let alone about media, culture and the like. So I thank you for bringing this information to me in this thoughtful and entertaining way.
You are totally correct. The only question is -When & How much Blood will be shed.
The "Captains of Industry" literally do not remember the Dot Com farce. I remember one of them right before the bust bragging in one of the Free Industry Rags that they had defeated Downturns/Depressions & all that nonsense. Those days were over ... what a Laugh !
Several weeks ago, Netflix also lost the rights to one of the most successful streaming shows of all time: Gilmore Girls. A show that came out 26 years ago. I do wonder if you saw a bunch of people unsubscribe after that.
And let all the people of God say "Amen"!