Business is Business: The Interesting World of Falsifying Interests, Synthesizing Attention, and Curing Unbeknownst Pleas.

Here is what a salesperson learns on their first day: Magnify a Concept—even if it is false. It sounds cruel, but the answer to Ryan Brittain’s question, “Why do Sales Jobs create so many Millionaires?” is very simple. Hey Google, play the album Business is Business (Metro’s Version).

The online movie streaming industry has grown to be one of the largest money-making ventures to have come about. Gone are the days when one had to rent a CD and then remember to return it to the store, or you’d get charged a late fee. Yes, this was their reality! The older folks have much more experience with ‘renting a movie’ because Gen Z and onwards know NOTHING of the sort.

Popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, and the later HBO Max-now MAX have done well in fortifying a subscription-based space that made it possible for users to watch movies or series back-to-back without fear of having to stop- unless that bank card declines upon renewal for the month. Even service networks such as T-Mobile have made it easier for many to enjoy a collection of movies, both old and new, by combining subscription bundles into the monthly plan! So, as long as that phone bill is paid, you can watch away.

The hobby of binge-watching, when a user spends dedicated time watching a television series to completion, was made even more possible by these media streaming platforms. In the past, when cable television was relied upon, many had to remember the times that their favorite programs would be airing. As one is now able to watch at their convenience, they can spend the entire weekend bed rotting or being a couch potato- other terms made popular due to movie streaming services, whilst watching their favorites.

The business student is then quick to think, how much money do these platforms pay to acquire the rights to thousands of movies, television series, and animations? It’s a lot, they spend a lot. However, you must remember that subscription renewals every month pay their bills and earn them profits. Not to mention, many of these platforms make money from producing original concepts. The marketing student may then think, how do they know what is popular to show or to keep running? The answer, again, is the subscribers. Their internal metric systems continuously track the activity of the highest engagements, and the platforms update themselves accordingly. This is why countries and regions vary in what is available on each platform. Similarly, this is also why some shows are not renewed for upcoming seasons.

As opposed to popular beliefs, the talks online do not aid in the decision for these streaming platforms to pull a movie or to continue production. If this were the case, the Twilight Saga would be available all year round, and The Society would make its return for the second season on Netflix USA, but I digress. Unless it is a case where there are issues directly regarding the continuation of the show specifically related to writers, actors, and contracts, the metrics will always prevail- good or bad. It’s just business, and Gilmore Girls is the perfect example.

Though this television series debuted on Warner Bros and later the CW Network, it is now most popularly watched via Netflix as they purchased the exclusive rights to air it in 2014. By then, its production was canceled as there were contract and casting issues, so the metrics were the only thing that would determine its fate on Netflix. According to Rolling Stones, after gaining its place on Netflix, “its relevance skyrocketed and awakened a massive fandom.” Many have also rightly expressed that it is the sole reason why a sequel was developed and aired in 2016.

It is hilariously necessary to point out that Rolling Stones chose to use the word relevance. One would think that because the series amassed a large fandom, there was a widely shared liking to it. WRONG. After binge-watching through bed rot or being a couch potato, many expressed a deep dislike for Gilmore Girls because of character nuances:

Nevertheless, it will always come down to the infamous saying: any publicity is good publicity. The series Gilmore Girls has remained one of the most popular television programs streamed on Netflix. Last year, The New York Times reported that “Netflix recorded 500 million viewing hours for the show from January to June” and stated that it is in the Top Ten most-watched series across major streaming platforms.  

A recently made popular term, “Rage bait,” can be used to surmise why Gilmore Girls is still regularly promoted and endorsed by Netflix when so many viewers have mixed feelings- mostly bad, about the series. It forces others to watch and interact, and thus, it is good for business. On the flip side, the production team came together once more to take advantage of the constant noise online and created a sequel as what seemed like redemption for the greatly despised characters. It showed them in the future, doing so much better than where they left off.

As professionals, let’s take the correct page from this book, but always in context. A launch, a piece of work, a product, or a service may not be fervently acclaimed. Still, what is the analytics showing? Always remember what Thugger says: Business is Business.

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