3 comments
If you think about it from Netflix' growth and business model, reviews don't really add anything for them anymore. Back when Netflix was a struggling medium trying to replace video rental stores and had tiered dvd delivery plans people had the mindset of "should I rent this? I'll check out some reviews". Now because it's all streaming users can simply switch to something else but are in almost no danger of someone actually deciding to cancel netflix (If I start watching a netflix original that sucks balls I'm not going to cancel netflix I'll probably just switch to some star trek instead). The added value of reviews for netflix is really nil at this point however with how "sensitive" people are now the liability they face has grown drastically. There is already a glut of self styled media critics all over the internet so for netflix (which does not depend on ad revenue) divesting in this function does not affect either the user's ability to henpeck reviews/vent or netflix' revenues. The only real danger they would have is if they stop licensing popular branded content and completely try to produce their own expensive content without listening to users hence sinking money into things no one wants while letting the library go to crap.
If you think about it from Netflix' growth and business model, reviews don't really add anything for them anymore. Back when Netflix was a struggling medium trying to replace video rental stores and had tiered dvd delivery plans people had the mindset of "should I rent this? I'll check out some reviews". Now because it's all streaming users can simply switch to something else but are in almost no danger of someone actually deciding to cancel netflix (If I start watching a netflix original that sucks balls I'm not going to cancel netflix I'll probably just switch to some star trek instead). The added value of reviews for netflix is really nil at this point however with how "sensitive" people are now the liability they face has grown drastically. There is already a glut of self styled media critics all over the internet so for netflix (which does not depend on ad revenue) divesting in this function does not affect either the user's ability to henpeck reviews/vent or netflix' revenues. The only real danger they would have is if they stop licensing popular branded content and completely try to produce their own expensive content without listening to users hence sinking money into things no one wants while letting the library go to crap.
It is still a tool users can use to decide if they want to watch something. Maybe the movie or series picks up and it's worth sticking with it.
You're right though, there are plenty of other places people can go to for reviews.
It is still a tool users can use to decide if they want to watch something. Maybe the movie or series picks up and it's worth sticking with it.
You're right though, there are plenty of other places people can go to for reviews.
I wonder if this is in response to some of their left wing content being completely skewered by users.