Netflix makes big admission over streaming service's 'flops'

Netflix has revealed some behind the scenes truths when it comes to creating new TV shows - especially the ones that don't quite get the views, ratings or reviews that it demands.

The streaming service is the largest of its kind across the globe, with millions more users than its nearest rivals in Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.

And as part of that, it leads the way in original programming.

We've all tuned in to the likes of Stranger Things, The Crown, Squid Game, or more recently Baby Reindeer. They go beyond being just television shows with jokes, iconic dialogue and characters entrenching themselves in the television subculture that continues to grow across society.

But not every show gets the ratings or views that Netflix demands.

Just look at Mindhunter. Running for two seasons, it remains one of Netflix's most critically-acclaimed TV shows.

Despite this, and setting up future storylines to explore, it was axed after two outings.

"Listen, for the viewership that it had, it was an expensive show," show-runner David Fincher said in 2020.

Everyone seemingly has Netflix (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

"We talked about 'Finish [Fincher's Netlix film] Mank and then see how you feel,' but I honestly don't think we're going to be able to do it for less than I did season two. And on some level, you have to be realistic about dollars have to equal eyeballs."

And speaking today (4 June), the co-chief executive of Netflix has said similar when it comes to the success of its original shows - or rather, the lack of in some cases.

Greg Peters, co-chief executive of the streaming site, was speaking at the Media And Telecoms 2024 And Beyond Conference.

Not every Netflix original show is a success (Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

He cited crime drama Top Boy, which was originally broadcast on Channel 4, teenage comedy Sex Education and war film All Quiet On The Western Front as part of Netflix's offering, which were given the go-ahead due to being 'unique' and did not rely on data when it came to making a decision to commission.

It's not all straightforward, though, with the likes of Space Force starring Steve Carell axed after two seasons. 2020's sci-fi show Away, starring Hilary Swank, was canned after just one outing. Strong casts and unique premises weren't enough to guarantee success in both cases.

Peters said: “If it was just as simple as great algorithms then we would have no flops.”

Richard Gadd created the highly regarded Baby Reindeer (Netflix)

In other words, you can't always predict what is going to do well, with the old-fashioned hunch critical in forming part of the decision-making process.

In speaking about the 'unique' shows, Peters revealed an insight in to how the Netflix algorithm works.

He said viewers of historical drama The Crown were twice as likely to enjoy legal documentary Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?.

For Peters, it serves as evidence that the Netflix algorithm does not always give 'obvious' suggestions for viewers. The concept of watching true crime documentary after true crime documentary isn't quite as assumed as you might have thought.