Netflix on the brink of changing forever – radical feature upgrades could offer something completely different to subscribers

Remote control with Netflix button pointing at TV — (Image credit: Rik Henderson / Future)

Quick Summary

Netflix could enforce some major changes to its service in the coming year, with plans including live streaming channels.

It is responding to reports of dwindling viewer engagement by considering new paths the streaming platform could take.

It was recently suggested that viewer engagement was dwindling on Netflix, with research showing that subscribers are becoming less willing to watch second seasons of its grandstand shows. Now it seems the streaming service is willing to take extreme measures in response.

The company reportedly has a number of ideas it's mulling over, and almost all of them would see the platform change dramatically.

According to The Wall Street Journal and "people familiar with the matter", Netflix is considering live channels of TV shows and movies from specific genres, which could run 24/7. That would add an area that's more like Pluto TV or, in the UK, the FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV) channels you see on Freely and other streaming boxes.

Latest Videos From

Watch full video here:

There's also the possibility it will strike deals with rivals and offer their services through the Netflix app – much like Amazon does in Prime Video. You could therefore pay extra to subscribe to Paramount+ and watch its shows without needing to exit Netflix.

These are big, bold moves for a service that made its name on quality original content, such as Tiger King, Stranger Things, and Squid Game. But then, many of its biggest shows started when competition was less fierce.

There was no Apple TV, no Paramount+, and HBO Max was essentially US only. Even Disney+ is a relative newcomer in comparison.

A new Netflix competitor is on its way

And things are only going to get spicier for Netflix over the coming year. Comcast's Sky has announced an acquisition of ITV in the UK, which will result in a new "streaming giant" for the country.

Its own buyout for Warner Bros. Discovery also failed, after Paramount offered a greatly improved bid and it withdrew. Something needs to change for Netflix to continue in its position as market leader, it seems.

We just wish it was the, frankly ridiculous, price for 4K viewing.

TOPICS

Rik is T3’s news editor, which means he looks after the news team and the up-to-the-minute coverage of all the hottest gadgets and products you’ll definitely want to read about. And, with more than 35 years of experience in tech and entertainment journalism, including editing and writing for numerous websites, magazines, and newspapers, he’s always got an eye on the next big thing.

Rik also has extensive knowledge of AV, TV streaming and smart home kit, plus just about everything to do with games since the late 80s. Prior to T3, he spent 13 years at Pocket-lint heading up its news team, and was a TV producer and presenter on such shows as Channel 4's GamesMaster, plus Sky's Games World, Game Over, and Virtual World of Sport.