In just a few years time, Netflix has completely changed the world of television production. Following its wild success with House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, Netflix has continued rolling out a ton of original content. This also inspired other streaming services like Hulu and Amazon to get in on the fun, creating a new market and a gaggle of fantastic new TV shows that even A-list film stars are joining. But now it appears that Netflix actually wants to trim the fat of their original programming, and cancel the shows that are less viral or critically acclaimed.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings recently spoke to CNBC regarding the future of the streaming service. It's here where he revealed that Netflix is planning on being harder on cancellations in the future, saying:
Our hit ratio is way too high right now. So, we've canceled very few shows ... I'm always pushing the content team: We have to take more risk; you have to try more crazy things. Because we should have a higher cancel rate overall.
While a bit scary, this actually makes a great deal of sense. In order for Netflix's original content to remain curated and top-notch, Reed Hastings and company will have to trim the fat in regards to the less popular and less critically acclaimed properties. Of course, that means that some of our favorite shows not might be getting renewals.
Although network TV is all too happy to cancel less successful shows, this practice hasn't really translated to the world of streaming. Netflix has only dropped a handful of original programming. Murder mystery drama Bloodline was cancelled before Season 3 went into production, allowing for a fully formed finale to be crafted for fans. But Baz Lurhmanns' The Get Down also recently got the axe, surprising its droves of fans and critics. Supernatural drama Hemlock Grove was also cancelled by Netflix, although that show was early in Netflix's tenure, and was admittedly a bit of a mess.
But with Reed Hastings all too keen on cancelling some of Netflix's original shows, it seems like just about every new show is in jeopardy of meeting an early end. Considering how many new series are currently available on the streaming service, the next cancellation could come from just about everywhere. Some of the shows that might be up for cancellation include sitcom One Day at a Time, quirky dramedy Girlboss, and Will Arnett's critically divisive comedy Flaked. On the flip side, it seems like critical successes like Master of None and The Crown will likely live long lives on Netflix.
We'll just have to wait and see if and when cancellation announcements occur. Netflix doesn't have to operate like network TV, so these types of announcements can seemingly happen at any given moment.
Be sure to check back with us here at CinemaBlend for all the new information as it becomes public. And take a gander at our summer premiere list to plan your next binge watch.
