34 upvotes, 4 direct replies (showing 4)
View submission: Paramount Posts $286M Fourth Quarter Streaming Loss
It'd not just them. Streaming in general doesn't turn a profit, but everyone is doing it and once aboard the train they feel like they have to keep pushing, even though it's a bad business model.
They removed revenue sources by shortening the theatrical run of a film, then skipping home media due to the convenience of streaming, but it also raises the use of piracy since people aren't in a rush to see something while it's in theaters if it will show up on streaming in 2-4 weeks tops.
It's one of the dumbest models I've ever seen and a big reason why the film industry is in such a mess right now.
Netlix is the exception to the rule and that mainly has to do with Disney announcing they will remove their library from that platform back in 2017 in order to create their own one.
That forced Netflix to invest heavily into their own IPs and since then they've produced so much media that you'd need two lifetimes to see everything that's on there.
They're way ahead of the curve and other studios can't compete if they're already losing money like crazy.
Comment by beaglemaster at 09/03/2025 at 03:05 UTC
27 upvotes, 4 direct replies
Nah, the only reason Netflix is winning is because they were first and it's the one people are comfortable with.
Netflix pumps out a ton of stuff, but nearly all of it is forgettable and easily skipped.
If you measure it by original content that is actually worth watching, they're no better than any of the others.
Comment by broadsword_1 at 09/03/2025 at 11:12 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
That forced Netflix to invest heavily into their own IPs and since then they've produced so much media that you'd need two lifetimes to see everything that's on there.
Not that you want to, the majority feels like it's below made-for-TV-slop quality. There's a reason it became a common joke that anyone could get a deal at Netflix. Then the second common joke became "if you like it chances are it's already been cancelled on a cliff-hanger".
Comment by Babhadfad12 at 09/03/2025 at 10:15 UTC*
0 upvotes, 0 direct replies
It's one of the dumbest models I've ever seen and a big reason why the film industry is in such a mess right now.
The film industry is in a mess because supply of entertainment EXPLODED (YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, doom scrolling, video games, etc). Demand stays maxed out at 24 hours per day (practically less than that since people have to sleep and work).
Supply exploded, demand stays constant, which means prices fall.
The only way this doesn’t impact businesses is if the business’s cost fall just as quickly. Otherwise, the businesses have to shrink, or have other revenue sources (such as Apple/Amazon/Comcast/Sony) or have sufficient first mover advantage with no legacy costs from old deals based on old business parameters (such as Netflix).
Disney/Paramount/AMC Networks/Lionsgate didn’t really stand a chance (of remaining at their former prominence).
Comment by Jykoze at 09/03/2025 at 12:10 UTC
0 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Disney+ has turn profitable since last year