Streaming giant Netflix reportedly reduced content by 16% in 2023, choosing to go for quality over quantity.
It has come as a shock to most following reports that Netflix reduced its original programming output by almost a fifth in 2023. The streaming giant known for its aggressive approach to growth reportedly had its slowest fourth-quarter output in five years.
More reports reveal that Netflix has cut back on over 130 original shows and films. According to Broadcast Media Africa, “how these cutbacks will affect South African and sub-Saharan African content production is still being determined.”
Netflix’s head of film, Scott Stuber, in a statement about the cutbacks, said that the company is shifting its programming strategy to reduce quantity and instead focus on increasing the quality of the constant it puts out. He said,
“We’re a machine built to go, go, go, and that doesn’t always result in quality. Many streaming companies made the mistake of moving so fast that we made a lot of things that weren’t ready to be produced. I want to avoid that.”
Further reports also revealed that the streamer’s audience engagement decreased last year. There was a 17% decline in viewing and over 7 billion fewer hours watched compared to the previous year.
