The Future of Television: Strikes, Streaming, and the Downfall of Quality Content
Five years ago, a WhatsApp group chat was set up among friends who wanted to share their favorite TV shows and recommendations. It was like a book group, except with annoying message notifications. However, those notifications have now disappeared. September and October used to be the prime time for the best TV shows, but this year feels different. The Hollywood strikes that took place over the summer have thrown schedules into chaos. The Writers Guild of America went on strike on May 2, followed by the Screen Actors Guild on July 14, disrupting the production and release of numerous films and shows. While the WGA has resolved its issues with the studios, the SAG negotiations are still ongoing.
Streaming platforms have been holding back the release of shows in case the strikes continue. New seasons of popular shows like The Last of Us, Euphoria, House of the Dragon, Hacks, and The White Lotus have been delayed, while other highly anticipated shows like Emily in Paris and Stranger Things have no set premiere date. Although The Crown and Doctor Who are currently scheduled for a November release, there may be no actors available to promote them if the SAG doesn’t reach an agreement with the studios. Additionally, studios have taken advantage of the strikes to quietly cancel a number of series, including The Great, How I Met Your Father, and Metropolis.
The decline in quality content can also be attributed to the changing landscape of television. In the past, streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and HBO were willing to pay exorbitant amounts for high-profile shows, such as Netflix’s $10 million per episode for The Crown and HBO’s $15 million per hour for Game of Thrones. However, uncertainty about the future of television has made streamers more cautious. Advertising revenue has also declined, causing UK broadcasters to hold back their best shows until finances improve.
When my friends and I started our WhatsApp group, television was in its Golden Age. Streaming platforms were investing heavily in original content, and British talent was thriving abroad. In 2015, there were a record-breaking 599 new original series released in the US. However, the allure of quality content contained the seeds of its own downfall. The rise of streaming platforms, particularly Netflix, disrupted the traditional Hollywood model and signaled a shift towards a tech-driven industry. Silicon Valley was encroaching on Tinseltown, and legacy Hollywood studios were caught off guard.
Netflix’s success with shows like House of Cards demonstrated that streaming platforms could produce original content with Hollywood-level production value. This led to a surge in demand for high-profile talent, with platforms like Netflix signing exclusive deals with creators and actors. Private equity firms also saw the potential in celebrity-led production companies and started investing in these ventures.
Unfortunately, the streamers focused more on spending massive amounts of money on programming budgets rather than investing in the fundamentals of television production. The Writers Guild of America’s strike revealed that fewer writers were being paid less to work on an increasing number of shows. Streaming platforms had initially negotiated different payment structures compared to traditional TV companies, leading to issues with residuals and royalties for actors and writers.
The future of television remains uncertain. The strikes, streaming wars, and changing dynamics in the industry have created a sense of perplexity and confusion. The decline in quality content is a symptom of a broken system, with different stakeholders fighting to preserve their interests. Only time will tell how the industry will adapt and evolve.
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