In the modern-day world where digital piracy is very widespread, one can determine the popularity of a TV show by discerning how popular it is on piracy sites. Apparently, Netflix decides which TV shows it should purchase by determining how popular they are with online pirates.
Netflix has just introduced its video-streaming service in Netherlands, where piracy is already a popular indulgence. The company hopes to entice the users by offering such TV shows which are popularly watched in the country. And to gauge that, Netflix has decided to rely on pirate sites.
The company is in the process of buying licensing deals for the popular shows. Naturally, Netflix needs to make sure that it makes the right investment, which will go a long way in getting new subscribers. So according to the company’s Vice President for Content Acquisition, Kelly Merryman, “With the purchase of series, we look at what does well on piracy sites.”
Interestingly, the CEO of Netflix has reflected in the past that piracy is not entirely wrong and that it creates demand for certain popular content. This view is the same as is propagated by those who are not necessarily in favor of piracy in principle but do not favor applying censorship measures to counter it.
Netflix has, in the past, successfully countered online piracy by offering the ease of instant access to countless TV shows and movies with just a few clicks. This aspect may certainly sway such viewers who can easily afford the subscription fee and is expected to sway many away from piracy in Netherlands.
Courtesy: Torrent Freak
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