The Shocking Move: Why Streaming Services Are Stripping Away Their Own Movies & TV Shows
The industry faces a threat from the culture of disposable media as streaming services continue to remove their own movies and TV shows, leading to concerns about cost-saving strategies and the negative implications of content removal
Since the rise of popular streaming services in 2013, audiences have witnessed a quick turnover of shows, with some gaining high praise and popularity only to suddenly disappear. While it is understandable that platforms cancel content that fails to attract a sufficient audience despite its expensive production, completely removing it from the platform feels more malicious. This means the public loses access to certain intellectual properties, perhaps forever.
Moreover, it is widely known that streamers frequently strike limited-time agreements with production studios. For example, Netflix and Sony signed a groundbreaking deal in April 2021, ensuring that all of Sony's feature films would be available on Netflix after six months of their theatrical release. Streamers, particularly Netflix and Amazon Prime, do not heavily rely on their own original content. However, this does not justify completely wiping out any original content of lesser value from the public sphere. In a world where physical media is becoming less prevalent, the removal of films and shows from streaming platforms carries significant consequences.
Streaming Services Save Money By Cutting Content
Streaming services like Disney+ and Warner Bros. Discovery have broken the promise of having access to timeless media by removing popular shows like Willow and Westworld from their platforms. The lack of transparency in their licensing mechanisms has raised concerns among consumers, who wonder why these projects are completely taken down.
The main reason for the removal of popular shows is to avoid paying residuals to the cast and crew, as well as licensing fees. Streaming services like Netflix spend millions of dollars solely for streaming rights, even for their own original content. Additionally, poorly-received shows can harm a platform's popularity and value. By removing enough content, streaming companies can save significant amounts of money that can then be allocated towards developing more profitable intellectual property.
For example, Warner Bros. Discovery spent a staggering $425 million to acquire the rights for Friends, and this money had to be sourced from somewhere.
The Problems With Streaming Services Removing Content
Content libraries, originally marketed as the future replacement for physical media, are now facing a resurgence in demand for DVDs due to decisions made by their parent companies. The removal of shows and films from these libraries poses a risk of losing access to them permanently, especially for those unable to afford the high costs associated with tracking them down. This culture of disposable media diminishes the value of the medium as a whole, and consumer mistrust towards streaming platforms discourages future engagement with their content. Shows and films are no longer seen as timeless works of art, but rather as replaceable content churned out without much significance.
