Netflix is offering half as much content as in 2012, according to a new report.
Streaming giant Netflix is constantly bursting with new, original content. Just last week we saw the debut of the third of many Marvel series on the platform, Luke Cage.
Earlier this year we had Stranger Things, along with new seasons of Narcos, House of Cards, Kimmy Schmidt, Orange is the New Black, and others. Soon we’ll have the Gilmore Girls revival, more Fuller House episodes, and much more.
And that’s not even counting Netflix’s original movies, that this year counted Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, Pee Wee’s Big Holiday and Adam Sandler’s Ridiculous Six.
Related: Dear Netflix: Please bring back Pushing Daisies, Hannibal and Torchwood
But in Netflix’s bid to create more original branded content, it’s quietly been downsizing its library of third-party streaming content, which is apparently down to about half of what it was in 2012.
According to the streaming blog Exstreamist, which cites former Netflix employees, the total number of titles offered by Netflix in 2012 was close to 11,000.
In 2016, that number is down to just 5,302.
If you haven’t noticed, we don’t blame you; Netflix rotates out its content so frequently, it’s easy to lose track of what’s there and what isn’t; very rarely does the public sound the alarm when content leaves Netflix, although it does happen. Just look at the reaction when we lost several BBC shows, including Doctor Who.
Why is Netflix dropping content?
Exstreamist confirms that this is part of Netflix’s original content strategy, writing:
“This gradual decline has come from major content owners pulling the plug on giving Netflix distribution rights, as well as Netflix decreasing their total spend on third party content. Instead of having to renegotiate streaming rights repeatedly for third party content, Netflix has opted to place a heavier focus on original movies and shows, a move that, while certainly appearing successful thus far, is still considered by many to be a massive gamble.”
Netflix is indeed gambling with their success by choosing to place such heavy focus on original content. While there is no denying the social media buzz surrounding their popular programs — and the obvious international benefit of being able to stream these series simultaneously worldwide, which this writer has certainly appreciated — Netflix gained success as a DVD and Blu-ray rental service, which gradually made its titles available to stream online.
Subscribers choose Netflix over other streaming sites because of the wealth of content available, and even use Netflix as a one-stop entertainment hub.
Netflix is clearly banking on customer loyalty, as well as pure quality of content — if Netflix continues to push out must-watch content, it doesn’t need a vast library of third-party content to draw new subscribers, or to keep existing customers interested past the release of their favorite programs.
The question is whether Netflix will end up falling behind, opening up for other streaming sites like Hulu and Amazon Prime (or something brand new) to boost the size of their library and draw in viewers who just want as wide a selection as possible.