Streaming platforms’ restrictions alienate viewers

By Priyanka Shah & Amelie Wu Staff Writers

With the increasing popularity of TV shows on platforms like Netfix and Hulu, the phenomenon of show cancellations have become more apparent than ever, leaving fans yearning for more entertainment. On top of current consumers being left unsatisfed because of an unfnished narrative, Netfix and other streaming services have also begun implementing anti-password sharing policies in certain countries, making shows increasingly harder to access. The trend of frequent series cancellations and more restrictive means of access make subscribers increasingly alienated from the very content these platforms are trying to promote.

As shows face unexpected cancellations, fans have begun to notice a pattern. Many shows canceled thus far have similar demographics: minority groups. Shows prominently featuring LGBTQ+ storylines or characters of color seem to be canceled at a larger proportion, though the reasons are typically stated as low ratings and decreased viewership. Along with First Kill, the cancellation of Warrior Nun, another show with LGBTQ+ storylines, sparked major controversy. Many fans began to protest online with hashtags like #SaveWarriorNun. Time remarks on this phenomenon, noting how “the show joins a whole host of recent shows scrapped by Netfix, many of which involved LGBTQ+ characters, relationships, or storylines: 1899, First Kill, Fate: The Winx Saga, Q-Force, Uncoupled, GLOW … despite positive reviews and devoted fans.” Similarly, shows with primarily Black casts including Raising Dion and Astronomy Club have also been canceled, much to their avid viewers’ dismay.

With more and more competition within the ever-burgeoning streaming service industry, each company is in a constant struggle to gain viewers’ attention and favor. To best achieve this, streaming services mass-produce content for a wide variety of audiences, valuing quantity over quality. By mass-producing content, streaming platforms severely limit the number of shows they can actually renew, spending their budget flming shows that they will be unable to fnish.

Many canceled shows are Netfix origi - nals, leaving little chance of other networks picking up the series for season renewals. Although Netfix has never made an offcial statement on the exact reason for their show cancellations, Forbes discusses how based on third party measurement services, “Netfix often directly ties which shows get cancelled and renewed to completion rate.” Completion rate refers to the percentage of subscribers who start and fnish a show. For example, although the show Heartstopper had fewer hours viewed than First Kill, the latter was not renewed for a second season. This is because First Kill had a 44% completion rate compared to Heartstopper ’s 73%. Despite the statistics, the cancellations leave fans around the world disappointed at the lack of follow-through on the plot of a show they have invested their time into.

In addition to producing content that their viewers do not enjoy, Netfix has also placed new anti-password sharing policies in countries like Canada, New Zealand, and Spain that include increasing the cost for people who are using the streaming service outside of their residency, though they know that many users share accounts. Following in Net- fix’s stride, other services have implemented similar features or are considering doing so. Platforms like Hulu may allow only two devices to stream simultaneously, while Disney+ has released surveys to gauge reactions to anti-password sharing policies. This makes entertainment less accessible for people, and it particularly boxes out people who can’t afford streaming services. As a result, the entertainment industry and those who consume their content become an increasingly homogenous group, often white and high-income.

Although Netfix has already upset many fans around the world when it comes to the cancellation of TV shows, there are ways that Netfix and other streaming services alike can prevent things like this from occurring as frequently. Because the primary goal is for Netfix to increase the amount of subscribers they have, canceling many beloved shows seems counterintuitive. Therefore, Netfix should be more conscientious of the shows that they are accepting onto their platform, so that there are not as many reasons for them to cancel them. If streaming services make their viewers a priority, there could be more opportunities for representation within the flm industry.

Restricting media access through anti-password-sharing policies and canceling shows without regard to public reception is a form of alienating viewers, and shows how many streaming platforms make decisions on a more proft-based and money-hungry stance, rather than the intended purposes of telling diverse stories and entertaining its viewers. Media is a big form of representation, and the cancellation of certain shows makes viewers feel like their identity is not being spoken for on the big screens. When people spend time and energy into a show, they expect a satisfying ending, and when streaming services decide to take this away from viewers, it is highly disappointing and frustrating for fans all around the world.