> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://tvrev2beta2.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Netflix Takes A Little Off The Sides, Men Watch Microdramas Too - URL: https://tvrev2beta2.ghost.io/wir20261016/ - Published: 2026-10-16T08:18:49.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-16T10:24:54.000Z - Author: Alan Wolk ### **1\. Netflix Takes A Little Off The Sides** Netflix is laying off around 1000 people this week across a number of divisions and it’s causing all sorts of rending of garments and gnashing of teeth across the industry as Netflix had seemed like a safe haven from all of the tumult that is impacting the television industry today. That proved not to be the case, however, as Netflix’s oft-noted nimbleness was no match for the speed of change in the industry. #### **Why It Matters** Netflix is cutting back on traditional film and TV jobs while allegedly looking to double down on things like advertising, live events, podcasting and gaming. It’s all seemingly part of a plan to be more like YouTube, or, to be more accurate, less like a traditional TV company. That the latter is a rapidly moving target is not lost on Netflix’s management, which is a good thing, but getting their audience to think of them as anything other than their favorite streaming service is going to be a challenge. Netflix has not helped its own cause either. Problem Number One is that they took to heart the infamous words of the anonymous agent who advised them to “stop making snobby shows nobody watches.” So out went shows like *Orange Is The New Black* and *The Crown* and *The Queen’s Gambit* and in came forgettable mass market shows like *Ginny & Georgia* and a slew of reality and competition shows, none of which reached the appeal of *Survivor* or the *Housewives* franchise. So there’s that and what it did was diminish the value of Netflix in the eyes of subscribers and hand the “culturally relevant programming that’s not HBO” crown to Apple TV. I mean I get why they did it—”culturally relevant” is almost always shorthand for “really low ratings”, but those shows, the Successions and Ted Lassos, help to define a moment in the zeitgeist, even in this age of Feudal Media. Without those sorts of shows, Netflix becomes just another streaming service, albeit one with a very extensive library. Still, not great for retention. Adding on podcasts—my friend Brandon Katz calls them “laundry folding programming”—is not, prima facie, a bad idea. It’s just that people don’t immediately think of Netflix when they want to listen to one (or watch one, as the case may be). Meaning it’s not just that Netflix has to find compelling podcasts to add to their line-up, they also need to find ones that will get people to look beyond YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music for their next listen. Not an easy thing to do, given that Netflix’s mobile app is not designed for podcasts. At least not yet. Advertising is the final issue they are facing. As noted here and elsewhere, the assumption is that if Netflix had solid ad numbers in the US and Europe they’d be bragging about them. The fact that they are not likely means that the bulk of ad-supported subscribers are in places like Brazil and Mexico where price sensitivity is strong and where most subscribers weren’t already subscribing to the ad-free version. That last bit matters a lot. Netflix spent the better part of a decade convincing people that a key benefit of streaming was that, unlike linear, it was ad-free. At a time when network TV in the US contained longer and longer ad blocks, many of them filled with painful-to-watch 60 second pharma ads, the attraction of ad-free viewing was obvious. I still maintain that Netflix—and all of the other US streaming services—will need to roll out a free tier in order to stay afloat, but even then, they will need help getting their ad program in gear, so focusing on that is money well spent. #### **What You Need To Do About It** If you are Netflix, be aware that whatever cool factor you once had is now largely gone, especially among younger viewers for whom you’ve always been a part of the landscape. So if you want to transform yourself into a something-for-everyone entertainment conglomerate like YouTube, you will need to do more than just add on some lame games and some podcasts. At the same time you want to avoid what the Brits call “mutton-dressed-as-lamb” syndrome and the Americans have a Steve Buscemi “Hey fellow kids!” meme for. Meaning your audience sees you as an established brand. Not a new up and coming one. And so you’ve got to approach them from that place now. Finally, you really ought to look for your next culturally significant show. The one that will inspire a clothing line at Banana Republic and several knowing articles by Ivy-educated hipsters in the New York Times. Because whether or not the numbers reflect it, that is what people judge you on. If you are one of the other streaming services, well, don’t try this at home. As you can see, transitioning into being more than a TV provider is no easy feat and Netflix has a big head start. ### **2\. Men Watch Microdramas Too** One of the more surprising tidbits out of MIPCOM this week was research by Maria Rua Aguete and Omdia that showed that 47% of microdrama viewers were men. This is backed up by similar data from Holywater Tech and Owl & Co which showed that the male portion of My Drama’s monthly active users increased from 1.1% to 30.3% between mid-2024 and Q1 2026. #### **Why It Matters** The fact that men are watching microdramas goes directly against the conventional wisdom that says microdramas are the province of bored middle-aged women who are attracted to the hyperbolic soap-opera-esque nature of the medium. And while Omdia’s numbers varied from country-to-country, from a high of 54% in the UK to 29% in Brazil, the 47% average is still way above what most industry assumptions. Given that microdramas are expected to be a $25 billion global business by 2031, that’s a significant finding. At present, the microdrama market is heavy on extremely over the top softcore porny dramas with titles like “My Mafia Godfather Baby Daddy Is A Vampire Werewolf.” And while there’s currently a lot more out there than that, quantifying the number of men watching should open the door to greater investment in genres like comedy, thrillers and, of course, sports. That’s good news for a production industry that’s been counting on microdramas to keep it afloat and for the purveyors of microdrama apps, who can not only expand their audience but their advertiser base as well. #### **What You Need To Do About It** If you are in the production business, male-oriented microdramas would seem to represent a big opportunity. You just need to jump on it now, before everyone else does. If you are an advertiser wishing to reach that male audience, creating your own microdrama series would seem like a smart and relatively low-cost move. If you are a female fan of telenovela-style microdramas, fear not: the market is still there for you and your vampire godfather baby daddies are not going away anytime soon.