What an excellent analysis! I loved your point of view, and I constantly find myself reflecting on the current state of the audiovisual industry. I invite you to take a look at my publications if you're interested. Analyses like yours are exactly what I've been looking for since I joined Substack.
“Who asked for this content?” Love it.
What an excellent analysis! I loved your point of view, and I constantly find myself reflecting on the current state of the audiovisual industry. I invite you to take a look at my publications if you're interested. Analyses like yours are exactly what I've been looking for since I joined Substack.
Phase 1 (2012-2019): Netflix tries to become HBO. Quality goes up.
Phase 2 (2019-2023): Other streamers try to become Netflix. Quality goes up.
Phase 3 (2023-?): Streaming tries to become linear. Quality flatlines.
When streaming was still niche, they went after "discerning viewers" with more expendable income with prestige TV.*
Now that streaming is thoroughly ingrained, they're going with programming that has worked for more than half-a-century.
* We've seen this before. In the early days of TV (think late 40s, early 50s), much of the programming was plays, news, and topical discussions.