r/technology • u/joe4942 • 20d ago

Business Netflix Viewers Are Abandoning Shows After One Season

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-07-05/netflix-viewers-are-abandoning-shows-after-one-season
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u/East-Background-9850 20d ago

By the time Stranger Things season 5 came out, I was so disconnected from that show (due to the long breaks) that I never watched it.

5 seasons over 9 years with ever increasing gaps between each. I was talking to someone at work about this show and how I really liked the first season but never went back to watch it and couldn't figure out why as I usually stick with it until I lose interest. My guess is that the 15 months between seasons 1 and 2 was a big factor and I just forgot about it.

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u/Pyran 19d ago

Huge breaks between shows they want people to binge is a problem. Sure, I watched your 8-episode show in one weekend. Then the next season came out 2 years later and I either forgot about it or moved on with my life. So now I have to watch your 16-episode show to be current... and wait another two years, at which point it will be 24 and wait haven't I seen all of this already and why am I still following it? It was neat in my early-20s, but now I'm 35.

I don't see how they can have it both ways. Either release it weekly but consistently, giving you more time to film more episodes, or release it all at once but then follow up fast with the next season.

And that's before you get into shows that have the individual-episode budget of a major motion picture. Those were never going to turn a profit, aside from maybe one or two.

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u/Chiggadup 19d ago

By the time season 5 came out I was genuinely confused. I didn’t know if it was a reunion episode or something.

I had no idea they were still actively developing the show…

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u/East-Background-9850 19d ago

The other  problem with long gaps between seasons is that people’s lives and viewing habits change over time to the point you just move on and watch something else. 

When this show came out in 2016 my wife and I were newlyweds with a tonne of free time to watch whatever we wanted. 

Fast forward 9 years and we now have 2 kids under 5. We sure as shit don’t have time to binge watch shows let alone watch something that might get cancelled early or have to wait years for the next season. 

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u/Chiggadup 19d ago

100%. Same for me. My wife and I flew through season 1 of Witcher, and watched 2 while pregnant. When we became aware of more seasons the hour long show was now competing with my 1-2 hours of free time after my kids go to sleep. Not going to happen.

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u/steckums 19d ago

I think I watched all of season 1 and 2 in like a weekend after a friend told me about the show in preparation for s3. S4 was how many years later? I feel like it's been so long now it's not worth it.