Netflix’s new challenge: Keeping viewers engaged beyond one season
For years, the main focus for streamers like Netflix was attracting viewers. Now, the challenge has shifted: keeping them invested post-season one. According to a report by Bloomberg, many Netflix hits are losing over half their audience after just one season. But is the common explanation entirely accurate?
The problem with long gaps
One popular theory is that the lengthy waits between seasons are to blame. Consider shows like “Stranger Things” and “Sex Education,” where characters visibly age, making their school-based storylines less believable. No wonder the ‘Previously’ montages are almost feature length these days.
The flawed rush to convenience
This explanation might miss a larger issue. Unlike annual tech releases, TV has traditionally survived long breaks. For example, “Mad Men” took significant pauses, and “Severance” left a three-year gap before a second season that surpassed expectations. The difference might be the lasting impact of these shows, something much of Netflix’s lineup lacks.
Netflix has mastered an addicting formula: rapid pacing, heavy exposition, relentless cliffhangers, and auto-playing episodes. This formula excels at retaining viewers momentarily but falls short of creating lasting impressions.
TV designed for fragmented attention
Rumors suggest Netflix designs shows to remain understandable even while viewers are distracted, like looking at their phones. Matt Damon recently claimed Netflix advises repeating plot points for this reason, a claim Netflix has disputed. However, this aligns with criticism that much of its content caters to divided attention rather than capturing full engagement.
In contrast, prestigious TV often assumes full viewer engagement, utilizing subtlety and ambiguity. This trust in the audience to engage fully results in stories that resonate deeply, much like “Succession” has achieved.
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The future of meaningful storytelling
Netflix appears optimized for binge-watching rather than fostering deep connections. Viewer drop-off likely isn’t due to long waits between seasons but perhaps because these gaps reveal which shows genuinely resonate. “Severance” didn’t draw viewers back just because it was accessible; its gripping finale lingered in their minds long after. How many Netflix season finales have left such a lasting impression?
Source: creativebloq.com