Netflix burst onto the original
series scene in 2013, creating an ever-expanding collection of award-winning,
audience-rousing, binge-worthy shows — and giving us the best possible reason
to spend two days straight in front of the TV in comfy pajamas. With the
addition of Amazon Studios, the original content streaming sites are creating
is surpassing anything a major television network could ever release.
Amazon Studio’s has had a number of
big win this year with “Transparent” and “Mozart in the Jungle”. “Mozart in the
Jungle” picked up two awards for Best Comedy/Musical series and Best Actor in
the same category at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards, demonstrating that streaming
sites remain popular among critics, not just broadcast and cable viewers (Gibbs).
“Transparent” took home multiple awards at the 2015 Emmy’s. Creator Jill
Soloway accepted a director prize and star Jeffrey Tambor won the award for
outstanding actor in a comedy series, in recognition for his soulful portrayal
of a father who comes out as transgender to his family (Carlson).
Daniel Gadher, analyst at Ampere
Analysis, said “With streaming services continuing to commit to more original
programming it would seem that we will continue to see them having an impact at
the more prestigious award ceremonies” (Gibbs).
One of the most unique
characteristics of streaming original content is that they are able to be as
creative as they like without the fear of censorship. This makes for true and
honest programing that is not held back by the standards of networks. “Orange
is The New Black” is a perfect example. Since it is based on a true story it is
important to have every detail be used, and if OITNB was aired on mainstream
television we would be seeing a much different show. People who have watched it
know that a lot of profanity is used and there is a good deal of sex scenes,
both of which would not be allowed on channels like NBC, or CBS.
With the
lack of censorship, creators are able to take their ideas to the next level,
and they are launching series with superior storytelling that are more
interesting than much of anything you’ll see at the local multiplex (Carlson).
Original series have become so
popular that companies are seeing an increase in subscriptions when new
episodes are released.
Netflix CFO David Wells predicted
that the launch of Season 4 of “House of Cards” next month will bring in about
100,000-150,000 incremental subscribers. That's a tangible return on Netflix's
investment. However, it's still a small fraction of Netflix's projected 1.8
million quarter one domestic subscriber additions. Clearly, Netflix is still
benefiting from the growing acceptance of Internet video and is not wholly
reliant on hit shows for subscriber growth (Levine.)
In their last quarter, Netflix
added a record 5.59 million members because of new big shows such as “Narcos”
and “Marvel’s Jessica Jones.” These additions helped them grow membership to
74.76 million (Lafayette).
When Netflix released a new season
of “Arrested Development”, subscribers could not contain their excitement.
“Arrested Development” was a show loved by many and ended too soon after only 3
seasons. With its return created a new era in streaming, creating new content
for old favorites.
The biggest
news on Netflix right now is the new episodes of “Full House” with the title
change “Fuller House”. “Full House” was a show that was extremely popular
during its run. With the addition of “Fuller House” fans have come full circle
and it is like they have grown up with cast, getting a sense of nostalgia while
watching.
Netflix has
also announced it revival of “Gilmore Girls”. “Gilmore Girls” aired its final
episode in 2007 but that has not stopped it popularity. It has been extremely
popular on Netflix and reruns played on various channels. It is a binge worthy
show and once its over you will never feel the same (I know from personal
experience). Its revival has gotten a lot of people excited. There have been
numerous Buzzfeed articles dedicated to which cast members will return and
which one of Rory’s boyfriends will she be with in the end (If you’re not team
Jess you’re wrong). Netflix has the ability to take something old and make it
new again, and I’m sure we can expect a lot more revivals in the future.
A number of names celebrities have
made the move from Hollywood to online streaming. "House of Cards"
has become one of Netflix's most successful shows. Kevin Spacey plays the role
of Frank Underwood, the political drama's vindictive lead character; he also
won a Golden Globe. Woody Allen and Amazon Studio’s are working on an unnamed
television series together. Adam Sandler agreed to write, produce and star in
four movies for Netflix. The first, "The Ridiculous Six" was recently
released (12 Stars). This really shows that streaming sites are willing to
spend the money for binge worthy content.
Original content on streaming sites
is taking over television. The T.V industry had a monopoly on programing since
its creation, but the competition is getting tough with sites like Netflix and
Amazon Studios.
Carlson,
Eric. "Emmys 2015: HBO's 'Veep' and Amazon's 'Transparent'
Win Big." Fortune Emmys 2015
HBOs Veep and Amazons
Transparent Win Big Comments, 21
Sept. 2015. Web.
Gibbs,
Alexandra. "Amazon Trumps Netflix in Golden Globe Wins."
CNBC, 11 Jan. 2016. Web.
Lafayette,
Jon. "Netflix 4Q Earnings Lower; Revenues Slow."
Broadcasting & Cable. 19 Jan.
2016. Web.
Levine-Weinberg,
Adam. "5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants
You to Know -- The Motley
Fool." The Motley Fool. Web.
"12
Stars Moving from Hollywood to Netflix, Amazon." CNBC, 04
Aug. 2015. Web.
Google Images
Audience ratings have collapsed for live TV because people today now have the option of watching their shows when they want, where they want, and how they want. TV Ratings are having a difficult time staying above water because more people are watching their TV shows through online streaming. “Netflix added another 5.6 million subscribers in the past three months — and that was before it announced its expansion into 130 new countries” (Matthew Zeitlin, 1). Cable TV is getting crushed by Netflix and it is because of the creative freedom producers have that allow them to make series like, “Orange Is The New Black” as well as the opportunity for people to watch their shows whenever they want and where they want. So far I have watched every episode of this seasons The Bachelor through my Hulu account instead of watching it during the premiere on television. I like that I can wake up and watch my show that morning or if I am about to get on the train for an hour and need to kill time I will save it for the ride. “I stream. I DVR. I read, I go to dinner, I run errands and see family, all during primetime hours. And with Netflix, HBOGo and Hulu passwords in my arsenal, I’m armed and ready to watch what I need to on my own timetable — unapologetically so” (AJ Marechal 1). It is all about what is most convenient for the people.
ReplyDeleteEmily brought up a really valid point that many people don’t realize when they are choosing Netflix shows over live TV. Netflix show creators are given more freedom to express their full creativity without having to worry about censorship. When Tina Fey was pitching a show to NBC, she ran into issues with her storyline that would be too controversial for the broadcast network to air. Tina Fey told Reuters in an interview, "With broadcast, when you're going into people's homes, you have to be a little more polite," Fey told Reuters. On the streaming service Netflix, however, "you can get into more dangerous topics." Creators love the creative freedom they are given by online streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon. Woody Allen is even coming out of the woodworks after 50 years of be being out of the television business to create his own Amazon series.
The TV business needs to come up with something in order to stay in the game and quickly. I agree with Emily and her final statement, “The T.V industry had a monopoly on programing since its creation, but the competition is getting tough with sites like Netflix and Amazon Studios.”
Works Cited
Marechal, AJ. "Watching Live TV Vexes the On-Demand Generation." Variety. 2013. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
Sinha-Roy, Piya. "Nazis? Cults? Creative Freedom Draws Hollywood to Netflix, Amazon TV." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 2015. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
Zeitlin, Matthew. "Netflix Hits 75 Million Subscribers, Gloats As TV Execs Freak Out." BuzzFeed. 19 Jan. 2016. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
I completely agree with everything Emily said in this post. Netflix has definitely changed the game by coming out with original shows. It caused all other streaming platforms to start creating original content to compete, and it has changed the game for the television industry. For audiences, there is a normalcy now in binge watching an entire season of a show within a week of it coming out. These shows are winning awards because of the authenticity, and it is evident that original content on streaming platforms is the future.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the streaming of original content started with House of Cards, it has only grown since then. When putting streaming into consideration, every other popular show is one that is originally from a streaming service. “Mozart in the Jungle,” in specific, is an Amazon original series that has gained a lot of popularity for Amazon Prime users. Although Netflix started the original content, the idea has only grown among streaming services. This has essentially caused a growth in streaming overall. According to Vulture, “Streaming shows nearly doubled, jumping from 27 in 2014 to 44 to 2015” (Adalian). I believe this is because people are streaming original content.
Now, I can say, not many people relate to the characters in Netflix original shows like “Orange is the New Black” or “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” However, these shows create characters that make viewers want to binge-watch the shows. These shows are just interesting to watch, regardless of them not being relatable. People enjoy escaping reality and seeing other people’s lives. No one relates to the villains in “House of Cards.” No one has fought off a villain who can control actions like in “Jessica Jones.” Yet still, these storylines are so intriguing and captivating that the audience wants more.
The fact that Netflix is gaining subscribers from original shows is not surprising at all. They are doing a great deal to gain subscribers in terms of content. For example, superhero culture is so popular now that having a show like “Jessica Jones” with a female superhero lead appeals to superhero fans and girls. Netflix management has said that original content has actually caused Netflix to gain credibility and overall growth in subscribers (Fool). They are using things people are interested in and appealing to all different demographics to get new subscribers. Furthermore, Netflix bringing back old shows is something that is going to get even more subscribers because of the people who are interested in nostalgia. Shows like “Full House” and “Gilmore Girls” are shows that many people watched growing up. By bringing these shows back exclusively on Netflix, people will be interested enough to subscribe to Netflix just to know what the old gang is up to. As we discussed in class, it is evident that people are excited to see their old favorite shows back on “TV” through streaming services. Even more so, people are hearing about how incredible these original shows are from others, which is causing them to subscribe to join the conversation.
I know I definitely watch a lot of original content on Netflix, and I can tell that it will definitely continue to change the game of television.
Works Cited
Adalian, Josef. "There Were Over 400 Scripted TV Shows on the Air in 2015." Vulture. Vulture, 16 Dec. 2015. Web. 14 Feb. 2016.
Fool, Motley. "5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know -- The Motley Fool." The Motley Fool. Motley Fool, 27 Jan. 2015. Web. 14 Feb. 2016.
I too also agree with the points Emily made in her post. Netflix is growing every day because of their original content shows, older shows as well as revivals of older series. Netflix will continue to change the game because of what they are offering now. Live television ratings are down and I believe they are going to keep falling because of streaming services like Netflix.
ReplyDeletePersonally I am guilty of watching Netflix much more than I watch live television. The only things I watch on live television would be the news, The Bachelor and Keeping up with the Kardashians. There are not many shows today that I can say I religiously watch on live television when they air. I enjoy binge watching Netflix shows as bad as that sounds. Netflix has such a wide variety of shows and movies; it is obvious that they are becoming a big competitor.
After reading the assigned readings and Emily’s post, I saw that Netflix gets a lot of their subscribers from their original content shows. “On the original side, it's a very competitive market, and we are, fortunately, in a position ourself as a premier destination for the biggest and best projects” (Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos). Netflix is very smart by continuing to grow with their original content series because they are doing so well with them. Personally, I loved “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black”. If Netflix continues to make original content, which we know they are going to, they are going to keep growing bigger and bigger! I am excited to see what is next! Also I am very excited for the shows that Netflix is reviving including “Fuller House” and “Gilmore Girls”. Those were two of my favorite shows when I was younger and growing up. I know if I were not already a Netflix subscriber, I would subscribe now just because of those two shows.
Netflix and other streaming services are continuing to grow as well as beating out cable. “While basic cable has driven most of the content boom during the ’00s and ’10s, streaming outlets — mostly Netflix, but also Amazon, Hulu, and Crackle — represented the largest growth segment this year, both on a percentage basis and in total new series. Streaming shows nearly doubled, jumping from 27 in 2014 to 44 in 2015” (Adalian). It is crazy to think a streaming service like Netflix could be growing this fast and rapid? It all has to do with the different things they are doing such as old series, original content, and bringing in celebrities. “Netflix is on track to debut nearly three dozen shows in 2015, while YouTube and other digital players have both signaled their intent to jump into series-streaming in a big way” (Adalian). Netflix is on a roll, and they are doing all the right things to trump television as well as bring in those subscribers.
Overall I really enjoyed reading Emily’s post and totally agree that streaming services are paving the way for the future of watching series and movies.
Work Cited:
Adalian, Josef. "There Were Over 400 Scripted TV Shows on the Air in 2015." Vulture 16 Dec. 2015. Web.
"5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know." The Motley Fool. 27 Jan. 2015. Web.
I agree with Emily, the convenience and accessibility of online streaming is taking broadcast television down under. Online streaming networks like Netflix and Hulu (just to name a few) showcase that they have superior knowledge about what todays consumer is looking for when they consume television. Netflix has made huge investments in the production of original content (Fool,2015). This large investment is considered a risky move, but the success of its original content including "House of Cards" and "Orange is the New Black" proves that this ambitious investment pays off in the end. (Fool, 2015)
ReplyDeleteThese shows have contributed to success of Netflix as a result of a rise in subscriptions.(Fool, 2015).
I believe that the success of original content via online streaming shows come from the creativity allowed by the freedom creators have through online outlets. Creators do not have to worry about censorship when creating online streaming content. This creates a more interesting and realistic experience for the viewer as opposed to viewing content that is censored. Emily provides a great example of this unique characteristic of online streaming content. She states that Netflix’s popular show, “Orange is the New Black” is due to the creators realistic and creative approach to telling a true story. As Emily had said, a show based on a true story requires much detail in order to make it interesting. A true story often contains details that may not be up to the standards of networks. Creators are able to take their ideas to the next level with out being bound by censorship. This puts online streaming content one step ahead of broadcast television.
There is a counter argument that can be made as well that argues the projection of online networks kicking down broad cast networks. Many analysts believe in the success of online networks a great deal, influencing the opinion that broadcast networks will be soon left in the dust as a result of consumers turning over to subscriptions for online networks (Yarow, 2014). According to Yarow’s explanation about what he projects will happen to traditional and digital outlets, traditional TV he assumes will merge with its digital counterpart into one big medium, it wont necessarily die out.This medium will allow all of its content to be viewed from any device including smart phones, tablets, lap tops, and television sets (Yarow,2014). I agree with his theory of the future of the delivery of content. It makes sense that the smartest move for broadcast networks is to make their content universally available on all devices. This would allow its success to be combined with the success of digital networks eliminating the challenging competition it now faces to drive consumers away from streaming online. If Broadcast networks impose the same strategy as digital networks, than they have done their work by catering their viewing options to the busy life schedules of its consumers.
Works Cited
Fool, Motley. "5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know." Fool. N.p., 27 Jan. 2015. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
Yarow, Jay. "N Investment Banker Made This Epic Presentation On The Future Of TV." Business Insider. N.p., 6 July 2014. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
Emily,
ReplyDeleteI think you brought up some really interesting points to further explore as online streaming and original programs become more and more prevalent. Shows like “Transparent” and “Mozart in the Jungle” really have paved the way in serving as this sort of catalyst show for others to possibly follow. Even back a few years, I am not really sure that people truly understood or could possibly imagine the large following that would eventually come to be. With every season there is a new show that airs on Amazon and Netflix among others, and with every season boundaries are pushed even further. As you mention, shows like “Orange is the New Black” are among many others that push the boundary of what is acceptable. It seems that this show in particular pushes the envelope and as a result has been well received, however, if shown on a different platform I don’t think that such a show could ever materialize. This seems to aid the creators in coming up with newer, more modern plots and characters. There is now more material/content than ever before that there is an option for everyone and also the option to watch something that they would never have previously seen. As you mentioned, this also applies to fan favorites such as “Arrested Development,” “Gilmore Girls,” and “Full House” which can now have a second life of sorts by way of Netflix. While this is very exciting for fans it is also a strong move on Netflix’s part because they are revitalizing classic shows in a new and inventive way. If I didn’t have Netflix by now, I would be more inclined to become a member because of the nostalgia that follows these shows, but also with a spin. I also think that this move toward newer, more exclusive content allows for a different kind of experience than previously seen with Netflix. Before the rise of original programs I think people started to become a bit annoyed with the lack of new seasons but this was settled by this “binge-watching” phenomena. People can now sit for hours at a time to finish up entire seasons whereas in the past and with traditional television this is an entirely different experience. That being said I do think that this works in Netflix’s favor while they are producing more original shows. They can buy time by releasing more seasons of shows that people seem to still enjoy. With the notification button people can be updated when new seasons come out, leading to more enjoyment rather than becoming annoyed that there is nothing new to watch. Even though there is more than enough to watch on these sites, we seem to never be satisfied with what we are being provided, even in this day and age when everything is pretty much available in an instant.
When looking at the article “5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know” by Motley Fool it is apparent that shows such as “House of Cards” and “Orange Is the New Black” really have “helped Netflix quickly gain credibility as a distributer of original content” as mentioned in your post. While expensive and time consuming this move toward original content appears to be the wave of the future for companies like Netflix and Amazon because they see the reward over the possible risk. I completely agree with your point that these streaming sites will spend a great deal of money in order to excite existing members and to reach possible new members in the future. Aside from the prospect of new members, there is also much to be said about the “massive growth in programming” according to the article by Josef Adalian. The rise of scripted comedies and dramas airing on streaming outlets goes to show that this is a viable avenue to explore when expanding a business model and also creating new content.
Works Cited:
"5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know." The Motley Fool. 27 Jan. 2015. Web. 15 Feb. 2016
Adalian, Josef. "There Were Over 400 Scripted TV Shows on the Air in 2015." Vulture 16 Dec. 2015. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
When I think about streaming I have a similar vision to what Emily described in the opening of her post. Streaming is synonymous with binging, lounging, snacking and napping. Streaming has become an integrated part of our digital culture and as Emily said companies like Amazon and Netflix have capitalized on this. I think there might have been initial surprise when Amazon shows like “Mozart in the Jungle” and “Transparent” are sweeping respective Golden Globes and Emmy Awards, but this only reinforced the power of the streaming movement. I think networks have since been more empowered and determined to create original series for these platforms. There is a certain level of supply and demand that is present with the content users want to see on streaming networks. I recently saw that Judd Apatow created a new 10-episode Netflix original series called “Love” starring Gillian Jacobs. Before the show even premieres there is a level of star power attached because you have Judd Apatow, who is behind movies like Knocked Up and the HBO series “Girls” and Gillian Jacobs who is known for “Community.” Now, consider the potential viewership. Take someone like me, who likes Judd Apatow productions and Gillian Jacobs in “Community.” I’m also a Netflix subscriber, so basically I’m an easy target for this show. The immediate 10-episode release, following in the style of (and I’ll stick with shows Noshin previously mentioned) “Orange is the New Black” and “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” etc. adds the binge component that is so prevalent in streaming.
ReplyDeleteThis supports a point made in the article “5 Things Netflix Inc. Management wants you to Know” being that Netflix is heavily investing in new original content. This really comes as no surprise and is in response to an analyst asking why Netflix needed more capital to stay profitable in the next two years and beyond. The article also mentions the “risky to the point of being reckless” decision made by Netflix to order two-full seasons of House of Cards before the pilot (Fool). While this was nearly 5 years ago in March 2011, the “reckless” trend has proved rewarding. Now, shows like Apatow’s “Love” are ordered with two-full seasons in advance and no one seems to be sweating over it. Let’s face it, the more subscribers we see on streaming networks and the more awards we see these programs winning, the more original series we should be anticipating.
And as a viewer, this is something I look forward to. I actually wanted to mention that I’m an Amazon Prime subscriber and I love it. This subscription originally started out for better shipping options, but now I find myself on Amazon Video all the time. I watched “Mozart in the Jungle” in a matter of days and even signed up for a free trial of Showtime on Amazon Video just so I could binge as much of “Shameless” as possible. I would say this has drastically changed my behavior as a consumer. I definitely wasn’t providing my credit card number for a free trial so I could watch a show a few years ago. If you think about it we are doing more, but feel like we are doing less with binging and streaming capabilities. But the numbers speak for themselves and the growth is inevitable. Vulture reported, “streaming shows nearly doubled, jumping from 27 in 2014 to 44 in 2015” so imagine what the figures will be by the end of 2016 (Adalian).
Going back to what Emily said towards the end of the post, I think there is certainly power in viewership. When you consider a show like Gilmore Girls, originally on ABC (now Freeform) being revived on Netflix there is just so much change going on. Ultimately fans are still committed to the show (and yes, Rory and Jess or nothing), but fans have also changed their viewing habits and preferences and the shift is certainly representative of that.
Adalian, Josef. "There Were Over 400 Scripted TV Shows on the Air in 2015." Vulture 16 Dec. 2015. Web.
Fool, Motley: "5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know." The Motley Fool. 27 Jan. 2015. Web.
Katherine Chirillo
ReplyDeleteDr. Burns
MSS 495
15 February 2016
Television Industry
Emily,
I really liked your thoughts on why original programs provided by streaming are currently making their mark in the television industry. I just want to say that streaming is great, and people love it for all the right reasons. For example, I completely agree with your point that the shows streaming don’t have to be as censored as those on live television. This definitely gives a streaming show much more flexibility and so many more options. Your Orange is the New Black example is what came to my mind as well. When I first watched the show there were scenes where I was thinking, “Is this really happening? Is this allowed?” Well, yes, it’s definitely allowed, it doesn’t have to be PG if it doesn’t want to be. The lack of censorship is a little refreshing, but Netflix in general is honestly just one of my favorite things ever created.
Netflix is awesome, and I would never dream of ending my subscription. The two shows you shared as being popular, Arrested Development and House of Cards, I have watched as well. I know what you mean by fans becoming excited by new content becoming available. The original content is really what gets me, and Netflix is the perfect place for that. One of the articles called ‘5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know’ actually used the same point with the show House of Cards. When this show was first announced people considered this decision to be incredibly risky, but he show ended up being super successful (Fool). I can see how taking huge chances like this and creating a large following would make Netflix that more credible. People are much more likely to trust that the shows they are streaming are good quality, and may try things they usually wouldn’t think to. They could be known for their reliable original content in a way.
There are certain shows that air on television that are definitely spurred by social media. There are many people that interact with the show by posting about it online, and this in turn creates some kind of buzz for everyone to see. I feel that people who do things like this enjoy that sort of engagement with their show of choice, and even more than that enjoy the sense of community and shared knowledge it creates. I’ve never personally live tweeted an event or television show, but I have seen people do it and can see all the hash tags on the screen while segments are airing. I can also see how those who do this would enjoy it. Relating to that topic, there is an article on Nielsen’s website called ‘The Making of Social TV’ that outlines some of the points I have already made, and goes even further to share that one of the reasons so many people participate in the buzz surrounding live TV are big moments. Everyone loves drama, and most want to share their opinion on whatever is going on. This is the one thing that I could see people feeling that streaming can lack compared to the thrill of live television shows.
Works Cited
"5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know." The Motley Fool. 27 Jan. 2015. Web.
"The Making of Social TV." Nielsen.com. 24 Aug. 2015. Web.
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ReplyDeleteStreaming outlets such as Netflix and Hulu creating their own original series is just pure genius. As if those companies hadn't been successful enough, they now changed the game forever by being that much more unique. It wasn't enough that both of the above companies allowed viewers to "binge-watch" at their own convenience, now they can watch full seasons of shows that are only on that outlet. Shows such as "House of Cards" and "Orange is the new Black" exceeded just about every expectation and the number of people streaming shows has nearly doubled in the past year. "Jumping from 27 in 2014 to 44 in 2015 (Adalian)." The numbers speak for themselves as the trend of viewership is drastically changing and most people have accept it and are conforming to it. I am absolutely one of those people and believe Emily's lead blog was spot on. She made a great point by providing us with the information that some pretty big time celebrities are taking part in these original series such as Kevin Spacey in "House of Cards" taking the lead role of Frank Underwood. (By the way, the show is incredible if any of you haven't seen it yet. Highly recommended). "Netflix has made huge investments in the production of original content (Fool,2015). This large investment is considered a risky move, but the success of its original content including "House of Cards" and "Orange is the New Black" proves that this ambitious investment pays off in the end (Fool, 2015)."The risk was certainly worth the reward and based upon the numbers mentioned by the Adalian article, it's very hard for me to believe that more and more original series will be made in the years to come. "Massive growth in programming (Adalian),"mentioned in the same article is intriguing as well. These streaming outlets are becoming so much more credible because of their progress and success in the original series department, which is allowing them to continue to be more comfortable spending a lot of money on original shows. Also, the more credible these outlets become the more big name actors will show interest in being a part of them. It'd be a win win for all parties if this success continues.
ReplyDeletePost Continued
ReplyDeleteIn terms of Netflix’s original content I believe that Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said it best, “On the original side, it's a very competitive market, and we are, fortunately, in a position ourself as a premier destination for the biggest and best projects” (Fool). I believe that the reason why they are the premier destination for the biggest and best projects is because they tell it like it is. Their approach is in line with the English way of doing things – no censorship. People watch their shows and become engrossed in them because in a way they can relate. The actors speak the way that the viewers speak on a daily basis; there is no beating around the bush. This makes the content more genuine, and intrigues viewers to continue watching.
The competition may be increasing, but it’s pushing streaming sites to try even harder with their “original” concepts.
Works Cited:
"5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know." The Motley Fool. 27 Jan.
2015. Web.
"The Making of Social TV." Nielsen.com. 24 Aug. 2015. Web.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePost Continued....
ReplyDeleteI know I speak from my own experiences when I say this, but I can imagine I speak for most people in this blog as well. My roommates and I sometimes dedicate days to Netflix and that consists of binge-watching either one or multiple shows depending on how the weather is outside. Not only do we enjoy the original series that the outlet offers, but it's shows like "Californication" and also movies that we watch frequently. We're well aware that it's possible to go ON Demand, scroll over to HBO, HBO Series, find "Californication," click the season in which we want to watch and then click the episode. Sounds pretty simple, right? Any normal human being would be perfectly fine doing that every time to watch the next episode, but not when Netflix is a real thing. For this process, we click on "Californication," click on the episode because it stays where we left off and then when the episode ends, the next one comes right up. One could say that these streaming outlets are the fast food of television...easy and relatively cheap to be a subscriber. Once again, these outlets blow our minds by making the convenient even more convenient. As I mentioned before, Netflix and Hulu are thriving because of old TV shows and movies as well. I remember when "Friends" became available on Netflix because I had never seen it before and was interested to watch it. Not only could I start watching it, but I didn't have to deal with commercials or a marathon ending at a certain time due to the fact that I had every episode of every season at my leisure. People even makes jokes about hanging out with somebody, referring to it as "Netflix and chill", which basically makes the streaming outlet a verb of some sorts. If that doesn't show how big streaming outlets are then I don't know what does.
Adalian, Josef. "There Were Over 400 Scripted TV Shows on the Air in 2015." Vulture 16 Dec. 2015. Web.
Fool, Motley: "5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know." The Motley Fool. 27 Jan. 2015. Web.
I completely agree with Emily when she says that traditional broadcast or cable TV networks now have some stiff competition when it comes to streaming services producing original content. Without the fear of censorship there are endless possibilities to what you can say and do as the creator of your show. I recently watched Marvel’s Jessica Jones and was amazed to find the amount of sex scenes in a span of fifteen minutes alone. These streaming services are allowing this creative freedom that traditional TV outlets would not even consider allowing to show due to FCC regulations. Award-winning content is being made thanks to these streaming services, all due to creators getting their artistic license back without fear of censorship.
ReplyDeleteWhat Netflix is definitely playing off of, and to their advantage, is the nostalgia/fandom factor to their original content. I have never watched a single episode of Gilmore Girls but once I heard about the revival I instantly felt the need to see what I had been missing out on. With all this excitement going around on the Internet I felt compelled to binge watch the series so I could stay in the loop. Another series that is highly anticipated is Fuller House. Although not everyone is a die-hard Full House fan it would be weird if you didn’t log into Netflix February 26th to see if all the hype was worth it. Netflix is using viewers’ fandom to create content and in 2015 alone they were expected to debut nearly three-dozen shows (Adalian). There are lots of avenues for Netflix to produce future content, ranging from classic shows, such as Gilmore Girls, to original shows, such as Orange Is the New Black.
As Netflix continues to create their own original content there are big investments going into these projects. In 2015 Netflix “announced plans to raise at least $1 billion of debt [that] year,” (Fool). Such an investment seems to indicate that Netflix considers not only the quantity of content on their service as key to gaining new customers but the quality of content is just as important. It also indicates that Netflix sees “binge-watching” and streaming content not only as a trend but also as the new normal when it comes to consuming television. As Emily’s chart shows, Netflix gained 8.2 million subscribers within the first two quarters of 2015, with an additional 3.5 million predicted to subscribe in the third quarter. If Netflix continues this trend of gaining subscribers, their investment will be worthwhile in the near future.
With Netflix new original content and the rising number of subscribers it is safe to say that more and more Netflix shows will be a part of the everyday water cooler conversations.
Works Cited
Adalian, Josef. "There Were Over 400 Scripted TV Shows on the Air in 2015." Vulture. Vulture, 16 Dec. 2015. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
Fool, Motley. "5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know -- The Motley Fool." The Motley Fool. Motley Fool, 27 Jan. 2015. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
Ryan Lawler
DeleteDr. Burns
The future of TV has been undoubtedly changed thanks to streaming websites like Netflix and Amazon. I myself will even wait to watch a show that is broadcasted weekly so that I can watch it all at once on either an on demand or streaming website. This bingewatching habit of mine only started when I began watching entire series of shows that had previously come out on TV but never caught my attention until I found them on Netflix or Amazon. It is easy to see why people can fall into this habit of bingewatching, it caters to the viewer as you don’t need to be in front of the TV at a certain time. You can also keep a better understanding of plotlines by instantly transitioning from one episode to another without having to wait a week.
Streaming networks have now taken it a step further with sites like Amazon and Netflix creating a large amount of original content which is now starting to surpass broadcast Television in terms of how many shows they put out in a given season. “Streaming shows nearly doubled, jumping from 27 in 2014 to 44 in 2015. Basic cable expanded much more slowly: There were 181 shows in the category in 2015, up “only” 12 from 2014’s 169. Broadcast (147) and pay cable (37) were basically flat, with just two more shows each.” (Vulture)
The numbers simply do not lie. Though the market is far from being dominated by streaming shows, their growth speaks for itself. Whether or not they can continue this rapid incline is up in the air. In my opinion the market for streaming shows is growing and I think their future growth will almost certainly mirror that. However to play devils advocate streaming sites are not accessed by as many households and could therefore be stunted in its future growth unless the shows are possibly picked up by Television networks and are sent into reruns.
The television reruns in addition to original content give companies like Netflix a unique advantage however. The ability to access both licensed content as well as original content on these streaming sites creates an enticing reason for people to buy a subscription to these sites. “By virtue of being exclusive to Netflix, original content has a unique ability to attract new members and bolster customer loyalty. However, management recognizes that subscribers still watch a lot of licensed second-run content, too. So, while Netflix will continue to put more emphasis on its originals, it also plans to keep increasing its spending on licensed content, albeit at a slower rate.” (Fool)
In conclusion I feel strongly that the future of TV entertainment lies deeply rooted in streaming content sites like Amazon, Netflix, and HULU.
Works Cited
Adalian, Josef. "There Were Over 400 Scripted TV Shows on the Air in 2015." Vulture. Vulture, 16 Dec. 2015. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.
Fool, Motley. "5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know -- The Motley Fool." The Motley Fool. Motley Fool, 27 Jan. 2015. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emily when it comes to online streaming and why it dominates the television industry. Just in the first sentence of her blog she states that Netflix or any online other streaming site gives people the possibility and the comfort to spend two days straight in front of the TV in comfy pajamas. Being one of those people who on any given day not just a snow day can binge watch Netflix or Hulu, I know and realize that the reason I have began to watch shows on online streaming sites oppose to regular cable television is because if I were to watch a show on regular television I could at most watch one episode and then have to wait until the next week to watch another one.
With Netflix they have entire series on their site, for example, when a new season Orange Is The New Black is released, they release the entire season in one day. Oppose to one episode a week. Growing up I used to watch “Novelas” (soap opera) with my mom and they would play a new episode every single day which was an hour long. Even with a new episode airing every single day me and my mom could not wait for the next day to see what happens next.
Now on Hulu they have so many soap operas and with the entire soap opera being on the site, I can watch more than just one hour a day. I’m not sure if that should be considered a good thing or bad thing but for me, its a great thing. It's a huge advantage for online streaming companies.
Not only does Netflix and Hulu let you catch up on older seasons and older series, but they also have original series that have become extremely popular to their audiences. Back to OITNB, I agree with Emily about how if OITNB was aired on mainstream television we would be seeing a much different version of the show because of all its profanity and sex scenes. Taking those scenes out of the show would take away a lot from the show itself considering it is based on a true story.
Emily stated in her blog that Netflix is predicting that the launch of season four of “House of Cards” will be bringing in an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 subscribers, and that is only for one show. I think that Netflix and all other online streaming services will continue to grow because of how convenient their services are. In the article “5 things Netflix Inc. Management Wants You To Know” they talk about how to Netflix exceeded their subscriber goals (Fool). Original content is just one of the things that brings them so many subscribers. It’s a very big part of their success but when you compare their original content to all the other content they have on their site it's only as small part (Fool). In the article “There Were Over 400 Scripted TV Shows on the Air in 2015” they talk about how basic cable is expanding much slower than online streaming sites (Adalian). It’s no surprise to me that sites like Netflix is surpassing basic cable.
Adalian, Josef. "There Were Over 400 Scripted TV Shows on the Air in 2015." Vulture 16 Dec. 2015. Web.
"5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know." The Motley Fool. 27 Jan. 2015. Web.
Emily,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that Netflix and Amazon Prime are giving cable network television shows a run for their money. Netflix particularly are masters at producing content that their consumers have shown interest in through their revival of popular television shows like "Full House" and "Gilmore Girls." In this way, they have used cable shows to their advantage while perfecting the way consumers want to watch their shows—curled up in their bed for hours binge-watching their favorite show.
The ratings companies for cable television hasn’t quite caught up to how Americans are now watching television—on their own time, through different sources. Which is why I suspect Netflix refuses to partake in the ratings game. Nielsen shows ratings for television shows that were recorded only up to three days after the release date. Not to mention the other sources they aren’t factoring in like Hulu and cable network’s apps like ABCGO. If they don’t update their methods of measuring who’s tuning in soon I think we can expect to see them in hot water before we see the cable and broadcast networks.
It’s crazy to think that just a couple years ago when Netflix released their first original television show that everyone thought it was going to be a bust (Fool) and now we now have a whole slew of shows to choose from. Both Netflix and Amazon Prime shows haven’t just been recognized by their consumers though; Prestigious award shows have recognized “House of Cards,” “Orange is the New Black,” “Transparent,” and newcomer “Mozart in the Jungle.” Actors have made names for themselves through them and known names in Hollywood are now taking part in upcoming shows. It’s not at all surprising that the streaming programs have gained billions of subscribers just in the past year (Zeitlin).
In addition, Netflix and Amazon Prime’s platforms have introduced a new bonding activity for people in relationships. “Netflix and chill” has become a staple in dating profiles and a couples listed it as one of the top activities they were planning on doing with their beau this Valentines Day (Cosmopolitan). I have personally witnessed the annoyance of my roommate when she found out her boyfriend watched the next episode of their designated streaming show without her.
With old shows becoming new again Netflix has introduced the feeling of nostalgia compatible with how we feel when we watch old Disney movies, which you can also find on the streaming channels. What will they do next?
Works Cited
Fool, Motley. "5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know -- The Motley Fool." The Motley Fool. Motley Fool, 27 Jan. 2015. Web. 14 Feb. 2016.
Zeitlin, Matthew. "Netflix Hits 75 Million Subscribers, Gloats As TV Execs Freak Out." BuzzFeed. 19 Jan. 2016. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.
On the statement that streaming is the future of television, I completely agree. I think it is necessary for progressive social change due to the fact that subscription based services are free of censorship and Ad manipulation, since they have no sponsors to answer to. Services like HBO and Netflix are also much less caring about ratings, enabling them to deliver more niche, risky content. Surely enough, according to the O'connel article, CNN saw a 22% increase this year, and all the while people generally report a distrust in mainstream news media. They must explore the other options, where reporters give their stories time to gestate and develop and are only under the influence of how the stories realistically develop over time. I'm going to focus on the example of one program to demonstrate the importance of streaming services and how this program contrasts to its cable counterparts. That program is, "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver."
ReplyDeleteI think that "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" is the most important news show on television today.
I personally believe that if as many people watched "Last Week Tonight" as they did the walking, talking, shit covered, banana monkey, fart spewing, hate robot show that is like watching the world's worst clowns unsuccessfully try to all mash into one of those tiny clown cars for three hours that we call the GOP Debates, that this country might be a very different, better, and more well informed place.
Why not throw in all of the people who watch the mindless, broad, pandering dribble, known as The Big Bang Theory, the highest rated sitcom on tv, on top of that number, and we might see some real change over time. Or imagine if even half the people that watched the nation wide distraction that is the super bowl, watched John Oliver.
"LWT" so deftly shows us why the main stream media 24 hour news cycle is so flawed. Airing only once a week, (often with week long breaks and months in between seasons) and being on HBO, which, as a purely subscription based service, is completely free of the grip of ads and much less dependent on ratings, he really is able to dig into the issues, and lay them bare, having actually thoroughly researched, prepared and, investigated his stories.
This is something the major news networks just cannot do because they don't have the time or the resources. This often leads to very surface level news casting and sometimes just plain old false reporting as each network rushes to break stories first, even ahead of the actual stories themselves. We need to see a return to form to good, accountable, investigative journalism in the mainstream media. The public deserves it. We need to wake up to what is really going on.
Annyone who tells you that it's a fake news show just because it incorporates humor into its messages, well, just tell them to fuck off and go watch more of the bland grey splotches on CNN. Final words: "The news used to dictate what it broadcast, and now the broadcast(er) dictates, for the most part, what is or isn't news.
Work cited:
Authors
O'Connel, Mitchell
Title
Cable Ratings 2015: 'Walking Dead's' AMC, CNN Among 4 Channels to Gain Viewers as Rivals Drop
Source
The Hollywood Reporter, 2015, 1
Folders
blogger media trends forecasting;
The only show that I am currently devoted to is The People vs. OJ Simpson – American Crime Story. Every Tuesday at 10:00p.m I lie in bed and watch it, commercials and all. I don’t own a Netflix account, I don’t own a Hulu account, and I would rather watch a movie. My reason being is exactly what Emily pointed out in her introduction: I would not move from my bed. When I start something, I like to finish it. Therefore, if I start a TV show, I’ll become eternally preoccupied with that, and frankly, I’d like to do other things. Don’t get me wrong, I have season of random guilty pleasure reality shows downloaded from iTunes on my laptop, which will only be playing on snow days, when I’m sick, or when I’m feeling under the weather after a night out. However, I’m pretty sure I am the only person who hasn’t Netflix and chilled.
ReplyDeleteIt is no surprise that as of 2016, audience ratings on live television have plummeted due to online streaming. In today’s day, everything is made for our personal convenience. What is more convenient than being able to watch your favorite show whenever you want, not just on the set time and date? Nothing really. “This year saw ratings drops from several top-tier networks, adding to market fears for the health of the pay-TV business that sent media stocks plummeting during the summer. Viacom, NBCUniversal, Turner Entertainment and A+E networks were lower across the board overall in 2015, the second year in a row cable ratings have seen significant downturns for the non-news channels (Patten 2015).”
I thought it was really interesting when Emily pointed out that a number of Hollywood based celebrities have moved to the online streaming shows. I had no idea Kevin Spacey was in House of Cards. That just goes to show how online streaming is such a normalcy now. Netflix has really set the stage for other streaming platforms as well such as HBOGo, AppleTV, Amazon, etc. Unfortunately, I don’t know much about any of these platforms because I am not an avid user. “While basic cable has driven most of the content boom during the ’00s and ’10s, streaming outlets — mostly Netflix, but also Amazon, Hulu, and Crackle — represented the largest growth segment this year, both on a percentage basis and in total new series. Streaming shows nearly doubled, jumping from 27 in 2014 to 44 in 2015. Basic cable expanded much more slowly: There were 181 shows in the category in 2015, up “only” 12 from 2014’s 169 (Adalian 2015).”
After reading the assigned articles and Emily’s post, I now understand that Netflix gets a lot of their subscribers from their original content shows. That fascinates me because these are shows that do not even promote on National television. Netflix is like it’s own community, and the dedication from the audience is very visible.
WORK CITED:
There Were Over 400 Scripted TV Shows on the Air in 2015. By Josef Adalian Vulture. December 16, 2015. http://www.vulture.com/2015/12/scripted-tv-shows-2015.html
Cable Ratings 2015: Fox News Rides GOP Debates Almost To Top, Discovery & AMC Rise, A&E and MTV Down. By Dominic Patten. Deadline. December 22, 2015
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteChristie Lynch
ReplyDeleteI chose to respond to Emily’s blog because online streaming is something I use all the time and even prefer over cable TV nowadays. “While basic cable has driven most of the content boom during the ’00s and ’10s, streaming outlets — mostly Netflix, but also Amazon, Hulu, and Crackle — represented the largest growth segment this year, both on a percentage basis and in total new series.” (Vulture) After reading this article I was not surprised to see that audiences are shifting their attention away from basic cable and exploring all that scripted shows really have to offer. If someone is giving you a choice to watch something right as it airs and only a single episode or having your own freedom to watch multiple episodes on your own time, I think most people would choose the second option. The freedom streaming sites like Netflix, HBO Go, and Amazon gives its subscribers gives them more control over what they want to watch at that moment, how much of it they want to watch, and the ability to stream content that may deem inappropriate for basic cable. Streaming sites are not under the same microscope cable is, so they are able to push the envelope with shows and really see how far they can go. This creates more original and interesting shows that don't seem like they have to fit a certain mold if they are under a specific channel. I like that Netflix is giving people quality TV to watch and expose people to the other side of creativity that they might not get a chance to experience on cable. This is why I agree with Emily’s point in her blog where she states that lack of censorship gives creators the opportunity to take their ideas to the next level.
“On the original side, it's a very competitive market, and we are, fortunately, in a position ourself as a premier destination for the biggest and best projects. -- Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos” (Motley Fool) As a generation who is always on our phones, why not redirect TV watching to online sites? It makes sense to me that this is where the TV industry is headed, and along with this comes with a whole new world of content right at our fingertips. Emily made a great point in her blog to bring up revivals of old shows that will attract a huge fan base. A show like “Gilmore Girls” has so many devoted fans that it was a great idea on Netflix’s part to bring back the show. Also turning “Full House” into “Fuller House” will bring not only the original fans back to watch, but possibly people who haven’t seen the show but heard so much about it now they have an opportunity to see what its about. All in all, the move from cable to streaming is one that many people are going to be making over the course of the year, and I can't wait to see what new content is in store.
Works Cited:
Adalian, Josef. "There Were Over 400 Scripted TV Shows on the Air in 2015." Vulture 16 Dec. 2015. Web.
"5 Things Netflix, Inc. Management Wants You to Know." The Motley Fool. 27 Jan. 2015. Web.