Why is Every Streaming Service Doing the Same Wrong Thing?

 For years, companies have often been pretty secretive with streaming data.  Companies like Netflix and Disney haven't been extremely forthcoming in saying what people are actually watching.  It was a little enlightening then when Nielsen (you know, the ones behind TV ratings since ever) listed the ten most-streamed shows of 2023.

As you can see there are 2 kids shows (Bluey & Cocomelon) and the rest are all shows that originally aired on network TV.  Not a single "original" streamer show like The Mandalorian, Power of the Rings, Stranger Things, or whatever.  Most of the shows are dramas or maybe dramedies (Friends is the only one of these shows I ever watched any of and that was only like 3 seasons) that aired on traditional networks from the 90s-2010s.  The top "original" series was Apple's Ted Lasso with 16+ billion minutes watched, which would probably be something like 12th-15th place on that list. 

I don't really know how accurate this is.  I mean I don't know if this counts everyone--like me for instance--or only a sample size.  Still, this should probably be a wake-up call for these streaming services throwing millions of dollars at "original" IPs.  

The thing is, almost every streaming service--even some of the lesser ones like Crackle or Tubi--has employed the same strategy.  They have some old stuff but they try to create "original" shows to gain attention and get people to sign up.  Disney has leaned on a lot of Marvel and Star Wars shows since the pandemic while Amazon invested big in Lord of the Rings and comic books like The Boys and Invincible.  Paramount+ made a big investment in Star Trek and Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan.  Netflix probably has the most "original" content in a variety of genres.

But now what we see is this strategy doesn't really work because people aren't watching this expensive "original" content as much as shows that in the case of Friends has been off the air for 20 years.  Really I think a lot of this is Americans are a pretty provincial people.  If you label something "Original" that's saying it's "New" and new is scary.  New is unexpected.  It's better to watch something you've seen before so you aren't surprised.  That's safe.

When it comes to entertainment, Americans have a pretty bland taste too.  And you can see most of the shows on that list are pretty bland.  Nothing that would probably be more than PG-13 rated at most.

The list of movies is almost entirely kids movies, most of them from Disney.  Almost all of them were released in theaters first, not streaming originals.  And as I just said all PG-13 and under, most being PG or less since they're for kids.  

I suppose it makes sense that if you and the kids (or just the kids) are home streaming they'll put on a movie for kids, right?  Maybe a surprise that Moana, which is from like 2016, is at the top of the list.

Something I was thinking is most of the shows and movies on these lists were put on regular TV or movie theaters before streaming.  Maybe provincial Americans need that seal of quality to try it.  Sort of like how a lot of people wouldn't read a self-published book because they think it won't have the same quality.  Streaming isn't self-publishing, but maybe there's the thought that it's not as good as something that's on regular TV or in a movie theater.

Anyway, you have to wonder now if streamers will prioritize older content over "original."  Not only is it cheaper and easier, it seems to be more popular.  The obvious problem though is there's only so much of that stuff people want to watch.  I mean when MAX locks up Friends that takes it off the board for the others so no one else can have it.  The same for the others.  You can't really make more of the stuff.

I wouldn't be surprised then if there is more of a push from companies to lock up older series.  That of course makes it suck a little more for people who can't afford (or just don't want to have) a ton of streaming services.  In which case some of us might have to just go back to DVDs to watch our old favorites.

And if you want another depressing nugget, looking at that list of shows, you don't have a ton of diversity.  I mean some of those shows have people of color in them, but predominantly they're shows starring white people.  That's pretty unfortunate.  The movies are more diverse with Moana, Encanto, and Wakanda Forever on there.  I'm not sure what that says--people can tolerate diversity in small amounts?  Kids are less racist?