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Did Alienating Conservatives Cause Netflix To Lose Subscribers?
PJ Media ^ | 07/22/2019 | Matt Margolis

Posted on 07/22/2019 8:25:16 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

On Wednesday, Netflix announced its subscriber base in the United States declined for the first time since 2011.

The streaming giant had forecast a gain of 300,000 during the second quarter (April through June), but instead it lost about 130,000 homes here. Thanks to international growth, Netflix still added 2.7 million customers overall, pushing its global base to a record 151 million. But even that wasn’t entirely good news: Netflix had told investors it expected to gain about 5 million new customers in the quarter, making this its biggest missed forecast since 2016. So what’s behind this gloomy quarter for the company?

Netflix blames the decline on its most recent price increase. “Our missed forecast was across all regions but slightly more so in regions with price increases,” Netflix explained to its investors, but they also blame lackluster programming. “We think Q2’s content slate drove less growth in paid net adds than we anticipated.”

Perhaps there’s another factor that Netflix is missing, or evening ignoring when it comes to their disappointing numbers. For more than a year now, Netflix has made some controversial moves that undeniably alienated a large portion of its U.S. subscribers: conservatives.

Back in March of 2018, Netflix named former Susan Rice, the former National Security Adviser and Ambassador to the United Nations under Barack Obama, to their Board of Directors. Susan Rice was a key figure in the Benghazi attack cover-up, pushing a false narrative to the media in order to give Obama political cover before the 2012 election. Rice was also behind the controversial unmasking of Trump administration officials on intelligence reports involving the Russian collusion hoax. Rice’s placement on the Board of Directors was also criticized because her national security background seemed irrelevant to being on the BOD of an entertainment company.

Nevertheless, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings defended the decision saying, “For decades, she has tackled difficult, complex global issues with intelligence, integrity and insight and we look forward to benefiting from her experience and wisdom.” Yeah, right.

Then there was the announcement in May 2018 that Netflix would be partnering with Barack and Michelle Obama to produce content. "President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have entered into a multi-year agreement to potentially produce films and series for Netflix, potentially including scripted series, unscripted series, docuseries, documentaries, and features," they announced via Twitter.

The announcement was met with immediate backlash from conservatives, just like the Susan Rice announcement did.

More recently, Netflix threatened to boycott Georgia and cease filming in the state over its controversial abortion law. “We have many women working on productions in Georgia, whose rights, along with millions of others, will be severely restricted by this law,” said Netflix’s chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, in a statement to Variety in May. “It’s why we will work with the ACLU and others to fight it in court. Given the legislation has not yet been implemented, we’ll continue to film there, while also supporting partners and artists who choose not to. Should it ever come into effect, we’d rethink our entire investment in Georgia.” In response to Netflix’s threat to boycott Georgia, pro-lifers, in turn, called for a boycott of Netflix.

Does Netflix really expect us to believe that rate hikes are to blame for their loss of subscribers when previous rate hikes did not have a similar impact? Maybe they should consider the possibility that the repeated alienating of conservatives subscribers and potential subscribers was also a contributing factor.

We've seen Hollywood take huge hits because of actors and programming becoming increasingly political and agenda-driven. The anti-Trump Murphy Brown reboot was canceled after just one season, yet Tim Allen's Last Man Standing, which was canceled by ABC (possibly due to conservative politics on the show), was brought back on Fox and continues to have big ratings. I think it's time Netflix, and Hollywood in general, acknowledge the fact that conservatives crave entertainment too, and they don't want to be lectured with left-wing propaganda when they watch a movie or a series. They want high-quality entertainment that speaks to them instead of talking down to them.

_____

Matt Margolis is the author of the bestselling book The Worst President in History: The Legacy of Barack Obama. His new book, Trumping Obama: How President Trump Saved Us From Barack Obama's Legacy, will be published on July 30, 2019. You can follow Matt on Twitter @MattMargolis



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: conservatives; netflix; netflixstock; subscribers
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To: GrandJediMasterYoda

I liked Designated Survivor, but when Netflix took over production it just became the liberal trope of the week on every show. Unwatchable


61 posted on 07/22/2019 2:36:23 PM PDT by j.havenfarm ( 2,000 posts as of 1/16/19. A FReeper since 2000; never shutting up!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Reed Hastings once said (sic) that Americans knew nothing about the world or politics. While that’s true to an extent, combined with hiring an anti-American pResident, price increases and competition, he did his company no favors. Now that the Net allows global viewing, Hollyweird and streaming services don’t care how many people they insult, as long as they’re American.


62 posted on 07/22/2019 3:33:03 PM PDT by Amberdawn
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To: SeekAndFind

Did hitting themselves repeatedly in the head with a hammer give themselves a headache?


63 posted on 07/22/2019 3:34:39 PM PDT by Grimmy (equivocation is but the first step along the road to capitulation)
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To: SeekAndFind

Yes, rate hikes are a big reason this is happening, also their liberal politics is pushing people away also.

So, both of these are true.


64 posted on 07/22/2019 4:12:54 PM PDT by packrat35 (Pelosi is only on loan to the world from Satan. Hopefully he will soon want his baby killer back)
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To: Richard Kimball

When the Disney deal ends, they are going to be in deep trouble.


65 posted on 07/22/2019 4:15:57 PM PDT by packrat35 (Pelosi is only on loan to the world from Satan. Hopefully he will soon want his baby killer back)
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To: GrandJediMasterYoda

Penetration is needed for rape, not ejaculation.

one can rape with a broom handle.


66 posted on 07/22/2019 4:23:11 PM PDT by Chickensoup (Voter ID for 2020!! Leftists totalitarian fascists appear to be planning to eradicate conservatives)
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To: SeekAndFind

I like netflix. I am glad I have it.

There are some great films and shows

Here is a sampling of what I have watched over the past few years. All interesting and compelling shows that were well done. I see them when I want to and it is the price of one trip to the cinema.

The Crown Series

Lucifer Series

Howards End

The Good Place series

Midsomer Murders series

and also

Mad Men series

Bluebloods series

Father Brown series

House of Cards series

Saving Mr Banks

Father Brown series

Longmire series

Broadchurch series

Nobel series

Occupied series

Get low

The Bishops Wife

Sherlock series

Mudbound

Osmosis series

The Umbrella Acadamy series

Kodachrome

End Game

Lillihammer Series

Tinker’

The Same Sky Series

good old Bob Ross

What Happened to Monday Series

All of the Jim Gaffigans

Ryan Hamilton Happy Face

Sebastian Monsoscalo

Anon

Black Mirror Series

Herrens Veje series (Ride Upon the Storm) I recommend it highly

Julie and Julia

What/If Series

Blue Jay

The Rain Series

and I have just scratched the surface.

there are India shows and many more Scandinavian shows coming to netflix and I am really enjoying some of the documentaries too.

There is dross out there, but it is a bargain at twice the price.


67 posted on 07/22/2019 4:46:41 PM PDT by Chickensoup (Voter ID for 2020!! Leftists totalitarian fascists appear to be planning to eradicate conservatives)
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To: Roobarb321
Or perhaps its the free-market saying they don’t like the programming on Netflix? Not everything is left-right.

I cancelled the same morning they announced the Obama deal and I told them why.

68 posted on 07/23/2019 1:32:42 AM PDT by itsahoot (Welcome to the New USA where Islam is a religion of peace and Christianity is a mental disorder.)
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To: metmom
You'll get my DVD's and CD's when you pry them from my cold, dead hands.

Or rip them to a network drive.

69 posted on 07/23/2019 1:48:07 AM PDT by itsahoot (Welcome to the New USA where Islam is a religion of peace and Christianity is a mental disorder.)
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To: itsahoot

Whatever.

Just as long as I have a hard copy.


70 posted on 07/23/2019 6:27:10 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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To: Chickensoup

Tell that to the left who claim they are innocent of rape because they didn’t leave any semen even though it was found on their pants. That case infuriates me so much. All the people out there busting their butt to make ends meet and 5 rapists and attempted murderers are made millionaires all so the left can push a racism agenda.


71 posted on 07/23/2019 6:27:22 AM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary walks free, equal justice under the law will never exist in the USA)
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To: GrandJediMasterYoda

her dna wasnt found on their clothes? Their dna wasnt found on her clothes?


72 posted on 07/23/2019 6:33:18 AM PDT by Chickensoup (Voter ID for 2020!! Leftists totalitarian fascists appear to be planning to eradicate conservatives)
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To: SeekAndFind

I’d drop NetFlix but I’d have to subscribe to them first. There are plenty of other options out there. Use them.


73 posted on 07/23/2019 6:39:09 AM PDT by Antoninus ("In Washington, swamp drain you.")
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To: Chickensoup

Because back then DNA testing was in its infancy, they didn’t collect for that. All they collected was the semen samples inside her vagina. What they are basing their whole innocence on is that their semen wasn’t inside her while they discount the MOUNTAINS of evidence against them!!

Ann Coulter wrote it all out in extreme detail in 2 parts....

http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2019-06-12.html

http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2019-06-19.html

You can also talk the lead investigator Eric Reynold, he will actually reply to you.......

https://www.facebook.com/eric1062


74 posted on 07/23/2019 6:39:35 AM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary walks free, equal justice under the law will never exist in the USA)
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To: GrandJediMasterYoda

The reason I am asking is that I understand that in cases like this the evidence is kept, clothing and samples and although they were not tested before, they can be tested now. That is what is catching all the criminals who commited crimes twenty and thirty and forty years ago.

All that stuff is there, and could be tested.


75 posted on 07/23/2019 7:04:52 AM PDT by Chickensoup (Voter ID for 2020!! Leftists totalitarian fascists appear to be planning to eradicate conservatives)
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To: SeekAndFind

This wasn’t easy to do.
They won’t let you do it easily anymore. Evil ones.
I hope my kids understand one day.

https://www.libertariansforlife.org/


76 posted on 07/23/2019 8:11:13 AM PDT by Concentrate (ex-texan was right and Always Right was wrong, which is why we lost the election. Podesta the molest)
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To: SeekAndFind

New hit piece on Trump.

The Great hack. - Netflix

This article explains though for those not remembering.

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/facebook-cambridge-analytica-us-election-clinton-trump-wishful-thinking-a8270741.html


77 posted on 07/24/2019 5:26:30 AM PDT by KeyLargo
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