Netflix, known for its disruptive force in the entertainment industry, is reconstructing the traditional cable bundle, albeit with a significant omission: news. The company, which revolutionized the linear television business and catalyzed the costly streaming era, is increasingly mirroring the entertainment giants of the past.
After years of resisting advertisements, Netflix has integrated them into its plans, now boasting over 40 million subscribers to its ad-supported tier. This move signifies a shift toward traditional cable models. The platform has also ventured into live late-night comedy, featuring notable events like the roast of Tom Brady and John Mulaney’s “Everybody’s In L.A.” Moreover, Netflix has made notable inroads into live sports, despite previous claims of minimal interest in this area.
In a groundbreaking move, Netflix announced on Wednesday that it will broadcast two NFL games on Christmas Day this year. This deal enhances its growing portfolio of live sports, including WWE “Raw,” set to air exclusively on the platform next year. “Last year, we decided to take a big bet on live — tapping into massive fandoms across comedy, reality TV, sports and more,” explained Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer.
However, conspicuously absent from Bajaria’s statement and Netflix’s overall strategy is news. The company has shown little interest in either live-news broadcasts or pre-recorded news programs similar to “Vice News Tonight” or “60 Minutes.” Conversations with talent agents confirm that Netflix has no plans to enter the news business. “The entertainment platforms are not interested in news,” said one talent agent anonymously. “Their audiences don’t want it and it can be polarizing. It’s just not worth it for them.”
By avoiding news, Netflix aligns with other tech and media giants like Meta, which have disrupted traditional news business models but have chosen not to engage in news production. There are valid business reasons for this decision. News content is generally less popular than entertainment, and it has become increasingly polarizing. Even stating verifiable facts, such as the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election, can alienate a significant portion of the audience, complicating ad sales and risking subscriber loss.
From a business perspective, Netflix’s strategy to avoid news is understandable. Investing in news would mean funding content that is less popular and more divisive, posing risks to the company’s overall stability.
However, there is an argument to be made for a civic duty among these companies to support news and public affairs programming. These platforms have significantly contributed to the erosion of the business model that sustained traditional television newsrooms. Journalists play a crucial role in maintaining democratic societies, and the decline of the news industry has far-reaching implications for global democracy.
Historically, major media companies have invested in journalism. Warner Bros. Discovery owns CNN, Comcast has NBC News, Disney oversees ABC News, and Paramount manages CBS News. Even during the rise of cable, companies funded C-SPAN, providing the public with continuous governmental coverage. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to question whether Netflix should consider similar investments to offer informative news programming.
Reconstructing the cable bundle without including news is like serving a meal of steak, potatoes, and ice cream, but omitting the broccoli. While the vegetables may not be the most popular item, neglecting them is unhealthy. Similarly, focusing solely on comedy and sports may satisfy Netflix’s audience but fails to serve the broader societal good.
The direction Netflix is heading could further diminish traditional television news outlets as streaming continues to dominate, exacerbating the decline of an already struggling industry. As the streaming revolution progresses, the absence of news in Netflix’s portfolio highlights a critical gap in the evolving media landscape.
