Broadcast and cable companies often hold press releases to announce how many viewers are following their programs, but Netflix will remain silence when it comes to details on how many people are watching their shows or even the demographics of its viewers.
"We want subscribers to watch our programs and fall in love with them on their own timetable," Netflix Chief Content Executive Ted Sarandos told the press at the Television Critics Association winter press tour on Wednesday.
"You don't have shows that penetrate the culture at the levels that these shows have had without people watching them," he added.
Sarandos, who is also the head of the company' streaming services, also added that the accuracy of traditional measures on viewership is questionable, as people have different methods in following their favorite TV shows, referring to other gadgets used in watching TV programs.
Netflix's action received various reactions from the public. Although it may be true that conventional ways of measuring viewership are no longer effective, some say that the company just wants people to pay for its service, hence, no comments were given about its viewership.
"All Netflix cares about is whether it can get you to pay a subscription fee for its content. If you're paying only to watch one of its original programs in particular, then, paradoxically, that program becomes even more valuable," Vox said on their website.
It also took on a show, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," which was originally produced for NBC. This move by Netflix did not go unnoticed.
While Netflix refused to disclose how many people watch their shows, they announced upcoming programs for the year:
- Bloodline - March 20
- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (written by Tina Fey and was originally for NBC) - March 6
- Marvel's Daredevil - April 10
- Grace and Frankie (stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda) - May 8
Netflix makes on-demand shows available to South America, North America (with Cuba as an exemption) and parts of Europe including Ireland, United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, France, Norway. Germany, Belgium, Austria and Sweden. The company currently has 53 million subscribers.
