In era of streaming, fans try to ‘game system’ to save shows on platforms like Netflix, Prime

Fans have taken drastic measures, like hunger strikes and flying planes over the Netflix office, to keep their favourite programmes from getting cancelled

Audience data, financing, subscriber numbers help platforms decide whether to keep a show but some ex-staffers say viewers ultimately ‘can’t game the system’

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Over the years, fans have taken drastic measures to keep their favourite programmes from getting cancelled. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 8:30pm, 20 Jun 2023

New York resident Nikki Rodriguez wants Netflix to renew its fantasy series Shadow and Bone – so much so that she has watched its second season 15 times.

She has promoted fan videos on social media to court new viewers. She has also created a Change.org petition that has about 1,800 signatures.

“It’s unfortunate they are making the fans wait so long,” said 47-year-old Rodriguez, who’s been in limbo since the latest episodes debuted in March. “We’re really rallying to get the show renewed.”

Over the years, fans have taken drastic measures to keep their favourite programmes from getting cancelled. A plane last year flew over a Netflix office with a banner reading “Save Legends of Tomorrow”, in an attempt to salvage the DC superhero show after the CW network cancelled it. One fan went on a hunger strike to rescue Netflix’s science fiction series The OA.

Both efforts failed.

Jessie Mei Li stars in Netflix’s fantasy series Shadow and Bone. Photo: Netflix/TNS

What makes a hit?

Figuring out what metrics make a streaming show successful can bewilder fans. Is it the number of hours people spent watching the show? Or how many viewers finished the season? Does social media buzz count?

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