Hey there Somethings, Podcast Rob here!
So.. there’s this disturbing trend happening lately on streaming services, and I think it’s time we talk about it.
Recently, shows like “Grease : Rise of the Pink Ladies” , “Star Trek : Prodigy” and “The Quest” have not only been cancelled, but the decision has been made to completely remove those shows from their respective streaming platforms.
The claim (by studios/platforms) is tax write offs, but, let’s look at the larger underlying issues involved, for there are other, deeper (un)intended consequences involved in my opinion…
Sure, business is business, and the almighty dollar speaks loudly. Yes, I get that it costs companies money to take up their server space with shows no longer being made. But, in the current climate with the Writer’s strike, it feels more telling as to a big reason services are purging things from their platforms….residuals.
Now, is it intentional by the platform providers to screw over the writers/actors/directors and anyone else who gets (or would get) paid from having a show stream? Or is it an ‘unintended consequence’ of the provider getting a tax write off that? The way the providers are trying to play hardball, I can’t see this an anything other than (another) slap in the face to those who make the content. And, unfortunately (for everyone else.. not those at the top…) cutting content/inventory/personnel (looking at you TCM) to ‘save money due to slumping sales/profits’ is a self-fulfilling prophecy, because now.. people will look elsewhere for that content (if it gets picked up by another provider) or.. determine (like I did with Netflix), that ‘enough is enough’ and just drop the service completely.
Now, maybe it’s a part of the ‘entitlement culture’ that we as consumers believe that just since we’re paying for a streaming service, that all shows and movies etc. should be available till the end of time, but to be fair, the services themselves set that expectation in the early days of the Cable Wars when they were encouraging folks to cut the cord and watch everything ‘on demand’, so.. should they really be shocked when subscribers jump ship and follow the content, or just jump ship in general?
What are your thoughts? Hit our socials and let us know what you think, and get ready for a month-long celebration of our 10 year podiversary in July!
– PCR
