The more things change, the more they stay the same. While streaming services have significantly changed the way we consume content, for some the amount of choice can be overwhelming. It is for this reason that Netflix has started testing a traditional-style linear TV channel in France which functions like standard broadcasting services with a set schedule, called Netflix Direct.
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The new channel is called Netflix Direct, which will provide subscribers content from its existing library in a linear, set format. “Maybe you’re not in the mood to decide, or you’re new and finding your way around, or you just want to be surprised by something new and different,” Netflix said in a statement announcing the new service.
According to the streaming service, it chose France for this initial test of Netflix Direct as traditional TV is still “hugely popular” there, and people “just want a ‘lean back’ experience where they don’t have to choose shows.”
The new service rolled out on November 5th in certain areas of France and will expand to other pasts of the country before the end of the year. There are more than 9 million Netflix subscribers in France.
This isn’t the first time Netflix has tried to change up its core service, as it understands its customers wants and needs better. In certain markets it launched a “Shuffle” button back in August to allow users to randomly scroll through recommended viewing options.
Netflix has had a very successful 2020, by any measure. It saw a massive increase in subscriptions during the initial worldwide lockdown phase of the coronavirus outbreak. It reported more than double the net income in the first quarter of 2020 compared to a year earlier.
Would you be interested in using such a service within Netflix? Let us know in the comments below.
