Monday, September 10, 2018
Thursday, June 16, 2016
How Netflix Monitors Your Viewing Habits
Ever wonder how Netflix knows what to recommend to you next? That’s because the video subscription service uses a system to monitor your viewing habits.
There’s a science to this. Viewing content online has become increasingly popular in the past decade. Many argue that Netflix has become an active competitor to linear TV, and threatens to make it obsolete. Other competitors such as Amazon, Shomi and Hulu have joined in on the race. With the competition as fierce as ever, Netflix must continue to satisfy its subscribers.
One surefire way to do this is by paying attention to users’ viewing habits in order to curate and create content.
It isn’t a secret that Netflix’s content depends highly on the data retrieved from subscriptions. It’s what influences what types of shows will be made based on what people are interested in. It has a say in who to cast and what crew to use.
It’s like an online video version of Big Brother watching over us, carefully monitoring our viewing habits.
And after all, it’s a fair assumption to believe that Netflix has an algorithm for these things, right?
Kinda.
Would you believe us if we told you that Netflix’s user monitoring is a lot more simple than we thought?
One journalist from the Toronto Star visited Netflix’s headquarters in Los Gatos, California. He discovered that algorithmic data must just be a thing of the past. Instead, Netflix employees monitor what you watch in real-time.
After building a seemingly flawless rating system, Netflix “de-emphasized” that model. Gone are the days when it’s star-studded ratings from 1-5 actually meant something significant. Now, Netflix still pays attention to your rating…it just doesn’t use it as primary data.
In his article, Toronto Star reporter Tom Vanderbilt says,
“asking people what they like is not the same thing as observing what they do. The beauty of the Internet is that regardless of what people say, you can see, with increasing fidelity, their actual behaviour.“
Clearly, Netflix doesn’t have full faith in its users to trust them to be honest with their interests. Nevertheless, the video streaming service is able to extrapolate what viewers are really watching. This means they know what you watch when you watch it, where you’re watching it, where you press the pause button, what you watch next and what you repeatedly watch.
For more information, read Vanderbilt’s article here.
Here at Key West Video, we consider ourselves avid Netflix watchers. With a full portfolio of compelling video content, we invite you to check out our website today.
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Friday, September 25, 2015
3 Things Bojack Horseman Taught Us About Rebranding
On August 22, 2014, Netflix released what would soon become one of its most popular originals: Bojack Horseman. Bojack, a washed up actor with mild depression and acute loneliness, deals with losing all that he has. He’s not nice to be around. He hasn’t worked since his hit show in the 90’s. He drinks a lot. Parties too much. And has way too many one-night stands. Oh, and he’s a horse. But then, he is offered one last chance at redemption: an autobiographical book.
In a brilliantly blended world of humans and anthropomorphic animals, Bojack Horseman shows us what it’s like to hit our peak, crash, and try to rebuild. By no means is Horseman an archetypal hero: he’s crude, rude, and highly impersonal. Yet, we still feel sorry for him. He’s had a rough upbringing. He pushes people away so they can keep a somewhat-perfect image of him. He’s scared of close interactions. And he’s sarcastic as hell. Above all, he’s lonely and doesn’t have too many close friends (except Todd, who sleeps on his couch, and Diane, whose job it is to write his book).
As Bojack tries to make amends with his life while he prepares for his dream role as Secretariat in season two, there are a few lessons to take away as he tries to create a new self image.
1) Don’t give people something negative to talk about.
We see time and time again that Bojack is failing at life. His relationships suffer. He is constantly being yelled at by his agent. He isn’t accustomed to kindness. He lashes out on anyone who gets in his way. He makes it very easy for Diane to portray him negatively in his ghost-written book.
When dealing with your company’s brand, it is easy to misstep. With the rise of social media, big company players are given an even bigger platform than before. A single statement could tarnish your entire company’s image. Just ask Abercrombie & Fitch’s former CEO, Mike Jeffries.
2) Keep your competition close.
Sometimes, it’s just not worth acknowledging the Mr. Peanutbutters of this world. You cannot be consumed with disgust when trying to become better. It’s exhausting. And sometimes, the competition isn’t worth annihilating.
While Bojack is openly sarcastic with a Mr. Peanutbutter who simply isn’t smart enough to get it, he does end up interacting with him for publicity in season two. In fact, when Mr. Peanutbutter becomes a host on Hollywoo Stars and Celebrities: What Do They Know? Do They Know Things?? Let’s Find Out!, Bojack’s popularity skyrockets.
Bojack could’ve easily denounced any interaction with his former sitcom rival, Peanutbutter. Instead, he saw this as an opportunity to get back in the spotlight.
Keeping a close eye on what your rival company is up to (or better yet, getting an intimate look at how they’re doing it) not only keeps you in the “know”; it gives you a leg up on how you can improve your own craft. Use that opportunity to study where they might fall short so you can learn how to be better than your competition.
3) Improvement is possible.
In the first episode of season two, we see Bojack making an honest (and strenuous) effort to make positive changes in his life. He listens to motivational tapes. He attempts to jog. He expresses concern. He is kind to Peanutbutter…for about half of one episode. And he’s secured his job as Secretariat, only to blow it. Even though Bojack’s positive mindset is short-lived, it’s important to note that it is there. Despite what he – and we – believe, it is possible for him to become a better person. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Even companies with the worst reputation are able to make this choice. We at Key West believe that there is no limit to improving self image – even if that means dismantling all that you’re known for to build anew.
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Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Netflix Tests Privacy Mode
Netflix is testing a new privacy mode to help save you from your embarrassing viewing habits, and keep your guilty viewing pleasures a secret.
The streaming television giant Netflix knows that sometimes you cave and make some horrible late night movie watching decisions… and they’re trying to save you from living with your bad choices for weeks on end.
Netflix is finally testing a privacy mode that will let you keep your guilty viewing pleasures forever a secret. The feature allows you to hide your viewing history from whomever you share your account with and saving you from those embarrassing “suggested titles” that constantly remind you of your horrible viewing habits.
The privacy feature allows users to hide a movie or TV show from their viewing history, recommendations, and social media.
A Netflix spokesperson confirmed the news in a statement, saying, “At Netfilx we continuously test new things. In this case, we are testing a new feature in which a user watching a TV show can choose to view in ‘Privacy Mode’. Choosing that option means the [programme] will not appear in your viewing activity log, nor will it be used to determine recommendations about what you should watch in the future.”
Netflix has yet to say whether the private mode will become a permanent feature, with the firm telling Gigaom, “We may not ever offer it generally.” However, Netflix has said that it will test it in different territories across the globe.
The feature is being tested across all of Netflix’s markets, and tests could go on for a few months, but not every user will have access to it. Cliff Edwards, the company’s new director of corporate communications and technology, said that a general roll-out will very much depend on how the feature performs in these tests. “We may not ever offer it generally,” he cautioned.
What do you think of #Netflix launching its new #PrivacyMode? Will you finally be able to watch those horrible b-movies guilt-free?
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
VOD Revolution is Here
Families used to gather around the TV at 8pm to watch their favorite prime time shows. It was a mark of honor for a program to be placed in that prime time slot. They had the largest audience, and with that came the most valuable advertising space. VOD (video on demand) in all its various forms is changing that.
Some popular shows are now only available through VOD services. For example, after an extremely popular run on FOX, Arrested Development was brought back exclusively on #Netflix, 7 years after its initial cancelation. Forbes.com columnist Dorothy Pomerantz thinks that “Bringing Back ‘Arrested Development’ is Netflix’s Smartest Move Yet”.
There have also been wildly successful series that premiered on the #VOD medium. The American series House of Cards premiered its entire first season on Neflix in 2013 to widely positive reviews.
VOD services like Neflix, Hulu, iTunes & even YouTube are even affecting DVD & Blu-Ray sales, especially when it comes to TV series boxed sets.
“What amazes us is that TV content owners are making TV streaming rights available to Netflix . . . It will be interesting to see if Hollywood executives can resist Netflix’s short-term cash, in order to protect their DVD ‘cash cow’ or whether they at least start adding some ‘000’s’ to the annual rates they charge Netflix for content.” – BTIG Research analyst Richard Greenfield
Which ever VOD service takes the lead in this movement, its clear that the user is really becoming their own personal content programmer, and watching their favorite shows when its most convenient for them.
Albert Cheng, vice president of Disney/ABC Digital Media, doesn’t think prime time television viewing is going anywhere anytime soon.
“They give the viewer another opportunity to see a show they’ve missed; they’re another opportunity to get that show further along (in its overall visibility). (Even with iPods and PCs), the bulk of consumer time will be spent in front of the tube. The largest platform you have will still be TV in five years, and it’ll play a large role in driving other platforms. In 10 or 15 years, I can’t see that far.”
Let us know what you think! Do you watch most of your favorite TV shows during it’s regular broadcast, or through VOD services, or something else? What do you foresee as the future of television?
Friday, April 11, 2014
Netflix Goes to Junior Prom
Netflix was asked to a teenager’s junior prom via Twitter… and they said yes! The media company agreed to go as Muthana Sweis’ junior prom date after Sweis’ request received 1000 retweets.
In January, Sweis tweeted to Netflix inviting them to accompany him to his junior prom in the event that his tweet received 1000 retweets.
And once he hit 1000, Netflix accepted his request to third wheel, leaving us all wondering how exactly a media company goes on a date. Of course Netflix pulled out all the stops and arranged some cool elements from iconic movies and television shows to make Muthana’s experience a very memorable one.
Sweis picked James Bond’s “Skyfall” tux (kid’s got class) and the 1950′s Buick from “Grease,” with a Danny Zuko look-alike behind the wheel. The teen was given the the choice to ride in one of Don Draper’s gorgeous cars or Walt and Jesse’s meth mobile from “Breaking Bad,” but maybe the latter was a little too edgy.
Netflix sent a camera crew to Sweis’ hometown and followed him all the way to prom where nearly every student hopped into an Instagram photo with him — further proof that Netflix isn’t just a great date for when you’re home alone binge-watching in bed.
Beyond being a fun way for the brand to build buzz by leveraging its connection with fans, the episode reflects how deeply media have become woven into the fabric of our lives. Film content informed key aspects of the evening, there’s a nod to Samsung’s Oscar selfie, and the whole thing played out on social channels. It’s especially telling that Sweis approached Netflix in the first place, tapping into our shared media experience to write his script for the prom. Adweek
Tell us what you think about #Netflix going to prom!
