Netflix has made its living as one of the world’s most popular streaming services, running in competition with others like Hulu, Amazon Prime, and even HBO Now. Well, with the way things seem to be going, Netflix’s competitors might soon find themselves inundated with new customers abandoning the service in search of the proverbial “greener pastures.” Changes in the service's program options have left a sour taste in the mouths of many subscribers who relied on them for classic shows and a readily available shot of nostalgia.
Where did they go?
In this case, the “greener pastures” are services that still make available some particular fan favorite Television Programs.
Recently, Netflix has been rolling out some original films and shows and unloading tried-and-true shows like "Bob’s Burgers," "House," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Ally McBeal," and "X-Files," to name a few and fans are not happy. On recent social media posts for Netflix’s original film "The Discovery" and its new powerful dramatic series "13 Reasons Why" fans have been using the threads to bring attention to their displeasure with the new offerings taking the place of their favorite shows.
Deal gone wrong?
Now while many have jumped on board in the outcry against the removal of these shows, there are some that have realized that this may be out of Netflix's hands. Many streaming services work by contract with various networks, meaning they pay to license the material.
It would seem that the majority of the programs that have been removed were originally Fox shows. So, does this mean that the network and Netflix have had a falling out or was the contract simply not renewed? Only they know, but for the time being it seems as though the subscribers are the one paying the price.
It's so hard to say goodbye
Over the last two years, the number of Netflix originals has increased, and the quality of much of the content has been on par with that of many Hollywood productions. Original content has become so popular that others have followed in their footsteps, like Hulu’s “Freakish.” So, will Netflix see a mass exodus of subscribers due to this change in content?
In a society that is ever growing in its need for instant gratification, there are more and more businesses jumping to meet these requirements. It's likely this latest dumping of programs may prove to be too much for some to bear and they may cancel their subscriptions. However, with every ebb there is flow, and it's likely Netflix will attract a brand new onslaught of subscribers who favor their original content. Only time will tell...
