It's a meme for years - don't get too much of that new streaming series you've discovered, because you probably won't come back for another season. Netflix is ​​the worst perpetrator, building a reputation for two season shows that rarely last longer (do not look away from Canceling "Warrior Nunska"). However, over the years, other streaming platforms have earned a similar gloomy reputation. How much Shows "Starwoles War" You never got Sophori orders? HBO MAX subscribers, I pour one for the "rule of cleaners". Even strummers backed by harder business models - those that usually allow great shows to last longer - have hit the problem. Fans of "My Lady Janeain", see you. "Schmigadun"? Passed too early.

It certainly feels like streaming is a less concrete place for scripted television than it was traditional, linear television, and data supports it. But why? Why is it much harder for shows to find their foundation today? Part of this is simply due to the huge volume of content that is produced. Air waves have only many hours a day, but when you choose everything you see from the library, there is no limit to how huge it is. In their efforts to compete with each other, streamers in the early years threw money on the Wallid just to fill their original content lists, hoping to build subscriber numbers.

That focus on subscription numbers is another of the problems in the game - a business model that, although related to viewership numbers, is less related to the success of individual shows.

In the streaming business, subscriber counting is everything. It has become slightly less true with increasing levels supported by ads introduced on different platforms, but those ads still depend on the number of eyes seeing content. "Growth" is the only thing that really matters, and streams like Netflix put a lot of supplies that seem to be going to keep the subscribers.

"The general rule is that if 50% of the show's audience does not finish the season, it is unlikely to be renewed," said Bitmin CEO Steven Lederer. Newsweek In 2024. The Lederer company provides streaming infrastructure to different players in the industry. "From a pure business perspective, this makes sense because Netflix wants only hit -shows to attract more advertisers and increase its advertising revenue." In other words, "throw the approach to the wall and see what glue" is sustainable only in the long-term growth context, if you are ready to hook early for things that are not sticky and if you can later be purchased.

Another major factor is the ease with which streaming services can reduce programming, compared to linear television. The network schedule like CBS is quite rigid, adhering to the championship hierarchy, where established shows are shown in newer to try to build interest. If one of those new shows is bursting, it is difficult to give up without preparing a replacement to go that can collect trampling. "You move these things and they are not moving like speed boats," said former NBC Studios President Tom Nunan The wrapper In December. "They are moving as giant aircraft carriers." Archers, on the other hand, can cancel shows at the time of notification without such problems, as long as they rely on what still leads most subscriptions in the first place - their back catalogs on old content.

"The dirty little secret to streaming is (she) still the strongest numbers enter their library, not for their new shows," Nunnan said. "So, new plays can come and go."

The extreme end of the series of meat grinder, which has been an increased focus point in recent years, is companies not only canceling emissions, but also removes them completely from their platforms. HBO MAX has earned the lion's part of IRE for this practice, Removing shows as "raised by wolves" and "Infinity Train" to a great reaction to the fan. But that is not the only stream he has done.

The goal is to reduce costs by removing copyright roads. If the show does not drive a new growth for subscribers, it does nothing for the company's share price, but it still pays to the people who made it as dedicated fans continue to transfer the content. As Matt Spiegel said, said Truaudience Data Vice President Forbes In 2023, "each stream bears copyright costs, so removing them from the library reduces costs without affecting revenue."

For those with the heart, or Loveube to television, or any empathy for already paid creatives who do, which can sound extremely malicious, and similar approaches to reducing costs affect the production process. As the creator of "Good Place" said Vulture In 2023 "What no one saw it coming, they would just kill the show before they had to pay that money," Four said. "They deceive everyone."