Streamers run on data, but that doesnt mean theyre sharing it with showrunners.
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Some do get more info than others this business runs on relationships, after all.
But even if you see a little data, what does any of it mean?
How many views is considered enough?
Does it matter what kind of viewers you get?
(The platforms themselves declined to comment on their data-sharing practices.)
1.Creator of a Canceled Netflix Animated Kids Show
1.
Their mind-set was Its not about the number of people watching it.
Most of the bars were grayed out except for ours, which was in red.
They were like, Do you have questions?
I said, Yes.
What are the other bars?
The answer was other shows they felt they could compare mine to on the service.
I was like, Wait a second.
You cant compare my show to a Michelle Obama show.
My main exec said something that was upsetting to me too: Youre selling yourself short.
What if you could make another show thats just as meaningful but it appeals to billions of people?
Im not selling myself fucking short.
2.Creator of a Canceled FX Series Streaming on Hulu
2.
What I was being told was Its doing good but not great.
We want to wait a little longer before we make a decision.
And then all of a sudden, it was The numbers are really bad.
This was before the whole season was even released.
I was given the opportunity to see graphs but not graphs with numbers on them.
But to be honest, knowing more wouldnt have changed the way I did things.
3.Showrunner of a Current CBS Procedural Streaming on Paramount+
3.
Every once in a while, you might get a vague statement like Youre doing okay there.
But they wont give us any data.
They wont even share it with our executives.
Youre constantly thinking about how your show is doing because it means continuing to work.
It means, in the most altruistic sense, that all these other people get to continue to work.
Thats really what you think about as a creator:I want this to do well for everyone.
I want this to do well for me.
I think thats the other reason they keep that information to themselves.
Any WGA member would probably ask, How do you monetize success in streaming?
They said they made more in residuals by being a guest star on that procedural.
4.Showrunner of a Concluded Apple TV+ Series
4.
Are their macro goals to sell iPhones?
You will never be approached with any information.
I paid money for a personal subscription, and I know Im not the only person doing that.
Our audience was pretty big.
I found out the show had rabid fan bases in other countries, too.
And then who wins?
It just re-creates the system.
5.Showrunner or Producer of Multiple Netflix Series
5.
Looking at ratings is a hobby.
It has always been a black hole.
The idea that it is a blacker hole now than it was in 1992 or 1977 is risible.
We dont have a right to this information.
Money doesnt give a fuck.
6.Creator of a Current Prime Video Series
6.
But other than that?
I have no idea what the streamer is actually looking at.
It was not a ton of fanfare when we got renewed.
We were obviously thrilled but we werent really told anything about why.
What I like most about the streaming model is making a show without audience interference.
I do miss execs who were tastemakers and just decided, I like it.
We talk about this all the time, butSeinfeldtook three years to get people excited about it.
The good stuff takes a minute, and nobody has a minute anymore.
7.Showrunner of a Current Netflix Reality Series
7.
People have short memories.
The reason those stories are so heralded is because that happened so infrequently.
You dont get to participate in any of that.
Ive had a shitload of shows canceled.
Did I like it?
Did I get it?
When a show is canceled, its like somebody who gets broken up with.
Youre in a relationship, and your partner tells you they dont want to be with you anymore.
And this conversation is, like, But why dont you want to be with me?
Why?Why?What did I say?
Theyre done with you.
The relationships over; thats it.
And I know that sucks, but you know what?
Ive got to pick myself up and find a new relationship.
8.Showrunner of a Canceled Netflix Half-hour Series
8.
We had a lot of creative freedom, which we were grateful for.
If its not getting that much better for them, theyre not interested.
They want to cut you off before you’re able to make a down payment on a house.
Heres all these other shows, and heres where yours is performing.
Were like, Whats that show above us?
And theyre like, We cant tell you.
So we say, Well, whats that show below us?
And they say, We cant tell you that, either.
And Im like, Well, it matters to me if itsThe Ranch.
Its like reading something where everything is redacted except stuff that makes you feel bad about your show.
So youre like, This FBI file kind of sucks.
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