These are uncertain times for Netflix, but the streaming service is not sitting idle as competitors grow and subscribers leave. It intends to expand beyond its current core business, and those plans apparently extend to live streaming.
According to a new report in Deadline, the powers that be at Netflix are "exploring" the idea of live-action content — think comedy specials and talent shows. In other words, a little more like TV was.
Live meetings are another possibility, according to Deadline, and live sports may be included in the future. It's something other platforms are doing, like the introduction of Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV Plus.
interactive content
This is all in the "preliminary stages" so you shouldn't expect an announcement any time soon. The article doesn't give a timeline for implementing the live content, but apparently there's a team at Netflix now working on the feature.
The sitcom could be a good starting point for Netflix as it hosts content from several well-known comedians. There's also the ability to interact with the audience if the shows are broadcast live, something Netflix has already experimented with (albeit in a different format) through the movie Bandersnatch.
Netflix played a big role in the shift to on-demand streaming instead of live streaming, but company executives know that the more formats it offers and the more options it gives subscribers, the better.
Analysis: Netflix must evolve to survive
As they are the biggest and most well-known streaming services, it doesn't seem like Netflix is in much trouble right now, but dig a little deeper and you'll find several worrying signs for Netflix's business.
Rival platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus are gaining new subscribers and constantly delivering new content. For the first time in a decade, the number of Netflix subscribers decreased instead of increasing. And Netflix knows that many of its users share passwords.
Put it all together, and Netflix knows it can't afford to be complacent: As Facebook has shown, even the most dominant players in a market can run into trouble very quickly as the market evolves and alternatives appear on the scene. .
In addition to potentially jumping to live streaming and cracking down on password sharing, Netflix has also explored the realm of mobile gaming, canceling many shows to cut costs. We also expect the streaming giant to announce a free and ad-supported tier in the near future.
over the edge