The platform is notorious for canceling shows after one or two seasons but what is the reason for this

Why Netflix Cancels Shows

From BoJack Horseman to Sense8, Netflix is notorious for canceling shows. After
the recent Cowboy Bebop cancellation, fans of the anime were certainly
disappointed. Those who did not like the live-action series had the option of
not watching it but those who did enjoy it will not have the chance of it seeing
the light of day. So, why does Netflix cancel shows?

To break this down, we’ll have to understand the type of shows available on
Netflix. With a platform offering over 15k titles, the content it boasts is
certainly diverse.


NETFLIX ORIGINALS

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]https://netflixjunkie.com/cobra-kai-season-4-will-not-be-on-netflix-may-2021/cobra-kai-season-4-may-2021-photos/

The late 2000s and early 2010s were the most ambitious time for Netflix. The
platform was undergoing massive changes that would redefine this company as a
whole. This is also when Netflix came to produce its own shows that would come
to be known as Netflix Original
[https://netflixjunkie.com/category/originals/]s. 2013-14 was the time period
when Netflix began producing its first originals like House of Cards, Orange Is
The New Black and BoJack Horseman. Today, of course, the platform also purchases
many shows and renews them on its own with the most recent and popular example
being Cobra Kai [https://www.netflix.com/title/81002370], purchased from
YouTube.


CO-PRODUCTIONS

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-trending-kids-shows-on-netflix-right-now-october-2021/anne-with-an-e/

While these essentially come under the “Netflix Original” category, they’re not
quite so. They don’t completely belong to the platform but are shared by other
production houses as well. Netflix and CBC co-produced Anne With An E
[https://www.netflix.com/title/80136311] and is a great example for this type of
titles available on the streaming platform.


OTHER SHOWS

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-the-office-thanksgiving-episodes-you-just-cannot-miss/the-office/

Then come other shows that Netflix licenses. These do not belong to the platform
as intellectual property. Netflix simply enters into a Digital Exploitation
Agreement or Film Distribution Agreement with the producer. These shows are the
ones that Netflix frequently takes off and on the platform. The Office and
FRIENDS are great examples of licenses shows. When these two shows went off
Netflix, the platform had to deal with the mass outcry from dedicated fans.

Hence, Netflix cannot “cancel” these licensed series, per se. The platform only
has rights limited to the distribution of these titles. The shows that Netflix
cancels are either co-productions or its sole productions, meaning that it is
only Netflix Originals that the platform can cancel.

ALSO READ: Top Shows on Netflix to Stream in 2022
[https://netflixjunkie.com/top-shows-on-netflix-to-stream-in-2022/]

Now that we have made clear what kind of shows there are on Netflix, this brings
us to the question you clicked on this article looking for an answer for:


WHY NETFLIX CANCELS SHOWS


VIEWERSHIP

Despite being highly dependent on data, Netflix keeps all of its information
super discreet. The platform never releases its viewership numbers to the
public. The recent top 10 lists available on the platform are the first time the
platform has made public its streaming numbers. This secrecy makes it difficult
for any viewer to understand whether or not a series will get renewed. This is
the reason why fans anticipate official news of a show’s renewal after the
release of a new season.

At the TCA Press Tour in 2018, vice president of the Netflix Original
programming, Cindy Holland talked to WIRED
[https://www.wired.com/story/why-netflix-keeps-canceling-shows-after-just-2-seasons/]
about why the platform cancels shows. According to her, the biggest factor
Netflix considers to renew a show is whether a show is “getting enough
viewership to justify the cost of the series.”

Considering how business is done, this rule certainly makes sense. One would
only invest in a company when they’re sure that they will get a decent ROI plus
profits as a reward for their hard work. With shows like Stranger Things, Money
Heist, or The Crown, the costs were high without question. But so were the
returns and hence, it made perfect sense to keep renewing them.

[data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==]https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-trailer-of-money-heist-part-5-vol-2-released-the-worlds-biggest-heist-to-come-to-an-end/money-heist-2/

As for shows like Sense8 [https://www.netflix.com/title/80025744] and Anne With
An E, they’re not “flop” per se. These series have managed to garner a decent
viewership
[https://www.insider.com/every-netflix-original-tv-show-canceled-list]. However,
it wasn’t enough for the platform to renew them when they didn’t get as many
returns. The endless number of tweets that complain about Netflix continuously
producing additional seasons of generic reality television series but canceling
even critically acclaimed ones might bring to light the underrated shows and
talk about how fans would love seeing more of them. But, in the end, Netflix is
a commercial platform that solely functions based on numbers.


DIFFERING FROM THE TRADITIONAL TV MODEL

While this logic certainly makes sense, Netflix
[https://netflixjunkie.com/category/news/] cancels its shows more frequently
than any other platform. The reason, according to CinemaBlend
[https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/netflix-cancelled-another-one-season-show-this-week-why-does-this-keep-happening],
for this is that the platform differs from the traditional TV model. While most
other production houses commission creators to make a single episode of a show
and then steer accordingly, Netflix commissions creators to make an entire
season. While this gives the people making the show creative freedom, the
platform doesn’t involve itself deeply in the creation process, which means that
less time and effort has gone into the process from the production as compared
to others.

So, this pattern of Netflix and why it cancels shows may yet continue for a long
time before we can witness any changes.

 

Safia Khanam

Comment

Why Netflix Cancels Shows - Netflix Junkie

Home

Netflix News

Netflix Junkie

https://image-cdn.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/nj_bg_transparent-1.png

A writer at Netflix Junkie, Safia Khanam is a Business Administration student with a passion for writing. Having been an avid reader and cinephile all her life, she enjoys sharing analysis and insights. The Intern, Dead Poets Society, and Anne With An E are her top preferences. When she’s not watching or reading anything, she likes to traverse the fields of calligraphy and other liberal arts. With an appreciation for culture and linguistics, she wishes to travel extensively and experience art and architecture firsthand.

https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-why-netflix-cancels-shows

Why Netflix Cancels Shows - netflix-junkie

Despite Hype, the Duffer Brothers’ 'The Boroughs' Gets Off to a Slow Start

Full Guide To Upcoming Netflix Anime In June 2026

Is Netflix’s ‘Futuro Desierto’ Worth Watching? A Critical Look at Netflix’s
Latest Sci-Fi Drama

Netflix’s Osamu Tezuka-Inspired The Ribbon Hero Sets August 8 Premiere

Will the Oba Femi vs Brock Lesnar WWE Italy Clash Be On Netflix USA? Where to
Stream the Match This Sunday

Where Was 'Enola Holmes 3' Filmed? Inside the Real Locations Behind the
Netflix's Mystery Adventure Film

How Netflix Turned a Nonexistent Sherlock Holmes Sister Into a Millie Bobby
Brown-Led Franchise

'Emily in Paris' Season 6 Cast: Meet the Characters Bringing Netflix’s Parisian
Rom-Com to Life

Is ‘Obsession’ Releasing on Netflix? When and Where Will Curry Barker’s 2026
Horror Sensation Be Available Online

From BoJack Horseman to Sense8, Netflix is notorious for canceling shows. After the recent Cowboy Bebop cancellation, fans of the anime were certainly disappointed. Those who did not like the live-action series had the option of not watching it but those who did enjoy it will not have the chance of it seeing the light of day. So, why does Netflix cancel shows?
To break this down, we&#8217;ll have to understand the type of shows available on Netflix. With a platform offering over 15k titles, the content it boasts is certainly diverse.
<h3>Netflix Originals</h3>
<a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/cobra-kai-season-4-will-not-be-on-netflix-may-2021/cobra-kai-season-4-may-2021-photos/" rel="attachment wp-att-4464"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-4464 size-full lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cobra-kai-season-4-may-2021-photos.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="800" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cobra-kai-season-4-may-2021-photos.jpg 1200w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cobra-kai-season-4-may-2021-photos-300x200.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cobra-kai-season-4-may-2021-photos-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cobra-kai-season-4-may-2021-photos-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a>
The late 2000s and early 2010s were the most ambitious time for Netflix. The platform was undergoing massive changes that would redefine this company as a whole. This is also when Netflix came to produce its own shows that would come to be known as <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/category/originals/">Netflix Original</a>s. 2013-14 was the time period when Netflix began producing its first originals like House of Cards, Orange Is The New Black and BoJack Horseman. Today, of course, the platform also purchases many shows and renews them on its own with the most recent and popular example being <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81002370" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cobra Kai</a>, purchased from YouTube.
<h3>Co-productions</h3>
<a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-trending-kids-shows-on-netflix-right-now-october-2021/anne-with-an-e/" rel="attachment wp-att-8535"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-8535 size-full lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/anne-with-an-e-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1571" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/anne-with-an-e-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/anne-with-an-e-300x184.jpeg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/anne-with-an-e-1024x628.jpeg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/anne-with-an-e-768x471.jpeg 768w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/anne-with-an-e-1536x943.jpeg 1536w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/anne-with-an-e-2048x1257.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></a>
While these essentially come under the &#8220;Netflix Original&#8221; category, they&#8217;re not quite so. They don&#8217;t completely belong to the platform but are shared by other production houses as well. Netflix and CBC co-produced <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80136311" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anne With An E</a> and is a great example for this type of titles available on the streaming platform.
<h3>Other shows</h3>
<a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-the-office-thanksgiving-episodes-you-just-cannot-miss/the-office/" rel="attachment wp-att-11222"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11222 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/the-office.png" alt="" width="1148" height="711" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/the-office.png 1148w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/the-office-300x186.png 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/the-office-1024x634.png 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/the-office-768x476.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1148px) 100vw, 1148px" /></a>
Then come other shows that Netflix licenses. These do not belong to the platform as intellectual property. Netflix simply enters into a Digital Exploitation Agreement or Film Distribution Agreement with the producer. These shows are the ones that Netflix frequently takes off and on the platform. The Office and FRIENDS are great examples of licenses shows. When these two shows went off Netflix, the platform had to deal with the mass outcry from dedicated fans.
Hence, Netflix cannot &#8220;cancel&#8221; these licensed series, per se. The platform only has rights limited to the distribution of these titles. The shows that Netflix cancels are either co-productions or its sole productions, meaning that it is only Netflix Originals that the platform can cancel.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/top-shows-on-netflix-to-stream-in-2022/">Top Shows on Netflix to Stream in 2022</a>
Now that we have made clear what kind of shows there are on Netflix, this brings us to the question you clicked on this article looking for an answer for:
<h2>Why Netflix cancels shows</h2>
<h3>Viewership</h3>
Despite being highly dependent on data, Netflix keeps all of its information super discreet. The platform never releases its viewership numbers to the public. The recent top 10 lists available on the platform are the first time the platform has made public its streaming numbers. This secrecy makes it difficult for any viewer to understand whether or not a series will get renewed. This is the reason why fans anticipate official news of a show&#8217;s renewal after the release of a new season.
At the TCA Press Tour in 2018, vice president of the Netflix Original programming, Cindy Holland talked to <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/why-netflix-keeps-canceling-shows-after-just-2-seasons/">WIRED</a> about why the platform cancels shows. According to her, the biggest factor Netflix considers to renew a show is whether a show is &#8220;getting enough viewership to justify the cost of the series.&#8221;
Considering how business is done, this rule certainly makes sense. One would only invest in a company when they&#8217;re sure that they will get a decent ROI plus profits as a reward for their hard work. With shows like Stranger Things, Money Heist, or The Crown, the costs were high without question. But so were the returns and hence, it made perfect sense to keep renewing them.
<a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-trailer-of-money-heist-part-5-vol-2-released-the-worlds-biggest-heist-to-come-to-an-end/money-heist-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-10010"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10010 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/money-heist.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="488" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/money-heist.jpg 650w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/money-heist-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></a>
As for shows like <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80025744">Sense8</a> and Anne With An E, they&#8217;re not &#8220;flop&#8221; per se. These series have managed to garner a decent <a href="https://www.insider.com/every-netflix-original-tv-show-canceled-list">viewership</a>. However, it wasn&#8217;t enough for the platform to renew them when they didn&#8217;t get as many returns. The endless number of tweets that complain about Netflix continuously producing additional seasons of generic reality television series but canceling even critically acclaimed ones might bring to light the underrated shows and talk about how fans would love seeing more of them. But, in the end, Netflix is a commercial platform that solely functions based on numbers.
<h3>Differing from the traditional TV model</h3>
While this logic certainly makes sense, <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/category/news/">Netflix</a> cancels its shows more frequently than any other platform. The reason, according to <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/netflix-cancelled-another-one-season-show-this-week-why-does-this-keep-happening">CinemaBlend</a>, for this is that the platform differs from the traditional TV model. While most other production houses commission creators to make a single episode of a show and then steer accordingly, Netflix commissions creators to make an entire season. While this gives the people making the show creative freedom, the platform doesn&#8217;t involve itself deeply in the creation process, which means that less time and effort has gone into the process from the production as compared to others.
So, this pattern of Netflix and why it cancels shows may yet continue for a long time before we can witness any changes.
&nbsp;

Top Shows on Netflix to Stream in 2022

https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/netflixjunkie-logo-2.jpg

https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/bojack-horseman-netflix-mental-health-month.jpg

The platform is notorious for canceling shows after one or two seasons but what is the reason for this? Find here why Netflix cancels shows.

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3daae4ab2879e2fdb4a57738fdc5b175?s=96&d=mm&r=g

Why Netflix Cancels Shows

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

EDITORS' PICK

The World of NJ

Connect With Us

General

Legal