- New report claims Netflix is testing permanent live channels
- They could have planned programming and broadcast 24 hours a day
- The rumors sparked a largely negative reaction
When Netflix first moved from mail-order DVDs to Internet streaming, it was a refreshing alternative to cable: stacks of ad-free content, on demand, for a monthly subscription fee. Since then, Netflix has slowly morphed into cable, and that’s likely to continue.
According to “people familiar with the matter” speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Netflix is considering live, always-on channels that would air 24 hours a day and have programming similar to traditional cable and free channels.
These channels could broadcast certain programs on repeat, for example, or focus on particular genres, according to privileged sources. Another idea floated within the company was to bundle other subscription services, such as Peacock, into Netflix for an additional fee (as Prime Video and Apple TV already do).
This is all in response to declining subscriber engagement, according to the report – the idea is to get more people to stay in Netflix apps longer. The competition for eyeballs has never been fiercer across streaming platforms, the web and traditional television.
The circle is closed
Netflix reportedly considering adding always-on channels
from r/technology
You may remember the shift to cable that Netflix began in earnest in 2022, when the platform introduced advertising. Since then, the ad-supported tier has become well established (and its price has increased several times).
Reaction to the rumors on Reddit has been largely negative. “It’s now come full circle,” one poster rightly observes, while another declares, “I would expect it to be terrible.” There are also concerns about future price increases that would coincide with the launch of additional channels and general frustration with the quality of Netflix’s catalog.
Several reactions online, however, have been more positive: viewers who have these types of channels on other services say they use them regularly simply to have something in the background that doesn’t require too much effort.
Other ways Netflix has recently tried to keep viewers locked in include video podcasts and short-form video clips. We may learn more about its future plans next week, when Netflix prepares to reveal its latest revenue and engagement reports.
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