Netflix has always prided itself in being an on-demand video streaming company, but after its recent financials, stiff competition, and a reduction in its subscriber base– they seem to be willing to consider anything. If a recent report by Deadline is to be believed, the company is expanding into live streaming. A new live streaming option for stand-up specials and other live content will soon be upon us.
As pointed out by Deadline, support for live streams could open up the possibility for Netflix to air live reunions for reality TV shows, as well as enable live voting for competition shows.
Netflix could also use the feature to air live comedy specials. This year, Netflix held its first-ever live and in-person comedy festival, called the Netflix Is a Joke Fest. The Los Angeles-based event spanned several days and featured over 130 popular comedians, including Ali Wong, Bill Burr, Jerry Seinfeld, and more. Netflix is set to start airing some of the shows it taped at the event later this month and into June, but a live option could give users at home the ability to watch shows as they unfold (that is if Netflix chooses to bring the festival back next year).
So far, we don’t know much about the upcoming feature yet. One of their rivals, Disney Plus has already gotten into live streams. In Netflix’s most recent earnings report, the streaming service reported losing subscribers for the first time in over a decade, while Disney Plus managed to add 7.9 million new users in the first quarter of 2022. To help counter a dip in revenue and subscribers, Netflix has hinted at potentially cracking down on password sharing, as well as adding a cheaper ad-supported streaming option.
