Netflix is not recommending what they think you'll like, they are recommending what they want you to watch. Once you're a subscriber, they want to keep you there as cheaply as possible.
This is exactly what their data analytics has told them to do.
Have a few popular, quality tv shows with star-studded casts as loss-leaders to bring in new viewers. Otherwise the model is to produce and recommend the shows that get them the most eyeballs per dollar; the bare-minimum to keep their subscribers there:
- Stand up specials are dirt-cheap, quite popular, and provide never-ending variety.
- Ditto with 'reality' shows, bake-offs, make-offs, expose documentaries, etc.
- Old sitcoms and b-movies that have a proven re-watch-rate.
Throw in a handful of first seasons to keep the FOMO up, and you've got a captive audience on the cheap. Maybe one or two will catch on and become the next loss-leaders.
They may not have the quality shows that are 'running laps around' HBO and AMC, but by any of the metrics Netflix cares about they are simply running laps around HBO, AMC and everyone else.
This is exactly what their data analytics has told them to do.
Have a few popular, quality tv shows with star-studded casts as loss-leaders to bring in new viewers. Otherwise the model is to produce and recommend the shows that get them the most eyeballs per dollar; the bare-minimum to keep their subscribers there:
- Stand up specials are dirt-cheap, quite popular, and provide never-ending variety.
- Ditto with 'reality' shows, bake-offs, make-offs, expose documentaries, etc.
- Old sitcoms and b-movies that have a proven re-watch-rate.
Throw in a handful of first seasons to keep the FOMO up, and you've got a captive audience on the cheap. Maybe one or two will catch on and become the next loss-leaders.
They may not have the quality shows that are 'running laps around' HBO and AMC, but by any of the metrics Netflix cares about they are simply running laps around HBO, AMC and everyone else.