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HBO Max taking on Netflix with human curation instead of relying on algorithms

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Re: HBO Max taking on Netflix with human curation instead of relying on algorithms

#81
Netflix, has low quality shows not because of their recommendation algos. but their business model. serve everyone some acceptable shit with a good chocolate here and there. And mass production. Netflix shows usually suffer from poor writing, poor cinematography. HBO knows how to hire the right crew for a show, besides the clusterfuck called GOT. Year after year, HBO continues to produce bangers, The Wire, Chernobyl, The Plot Against America etc are some of the finest shows ever made. with the wire #1.

Re: HBO Max taking on Netflix with human curation instead of relying on algorithms

#82
post #9

As Netflix has moved away from carrying lots of other people's movies to largely producing their own in-house TV shows, it feels like they barely have enough content to need an algorithm to curate it. They just show the same new Netflix originals over and over in ever category. I'm sure Netflix has piles of data that shows this is the best strategy. It just seems like a differentiated curation strategy doesn't matter…

I am suspecting this strategy is a profit maximizing move. Instead of recommending 3rd party movie that cost high licence fees, Netflix is directing its users to its own content, where the cost is fixed. Netflix wants vast library to attract users but Netflix doesn't want them watch and only pay subscription.

Re: HBO Max taking on Netflix with human curation instead of relying on algorithms

#83
post #72

Is there any halfway decent third party recommendation system? I've got a list of everything I've watched in the last year or so since I've started tracking it, plus older TV shows I've seen in full. I'd be interested in manually inputting that with ratings into some system where it can recommend what else I'd like given everyone else's data.

I've had some success with JustWatch https://www.justwatch.com/ As far as ratings go, you can 'like' or 'dislike'

Re: HBO Max taking on Netflix with human curation instead of relying on algorithms

#86
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It feels to me like the balkanization of streaming services was inevitable and Netflix getting into the content game was just a logical response to remain relevant. If the catalog is what garners subscribers then a streaming service without its own catalog is basically fucked in the long term.

This balkanization is a good thing. I'd far rather have the choice between many competing providers each offering a service at £8/month, than have the choice to take or leave a single expensive all-in-one subscription, like cable. It's also good that market forces are driving content-creation.

If only the prices were lower to reflect that competition. There seems to be a tacit agreement that streamers will pay 6-12 USD a month per service. Netflix began at $8 with almost all popular content available (which could be streamed).

Edit: cut extra word

Re: HBO Max taking on Netflix with human curation instead of relying on algorithms

#87
post #54
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah but how many of them are good? I can probably count the amount of Netflix original movies that I've heard discussed with one hand. And when it comes to stuff like Bird Box, the talk doesn't really even go with the quality.

Good is subjective. That’s why they have a personalization engine to make recommendations.

I don't think it is as subjective as you might think. If it was you'd expect lists like the imdb top movies of all time to be constantly in flux. Instead, they're remarkably stable.

If you would have said one individual's taste is subjective or subject to more variance I might be able to agree, but with more data points it seems humans are able to more or less define good from bad objectively. Anything with 10,000 or more votes on imdb is likely within 5% of its final value with very few exceptions.

Personally I find anything over 7.4 on imdb watchable, over 7.8 quite good, over 8.4 incredible, and if it hits 8.9 or higher it's likely one of the best movies of all time.

So my definition of "good" is somewhere above a 7.4.

Re: HBO Max taking on Netflix with human curation instead of relying on algorithms

#88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This balkanization is a good thing. I'd far rather have the choice between many competing providers each offering a service at £8/month, than have the choice to take or leave a single expensive all-in-one subscription, like cable. It's also good that market forces are driving content-creation.

If only the prices were lower to reflect that competition. There seems to be a tacit agreement that streamers will pay 6-12 USD a month per service. Netflix began at $8 with almost all popular content available (which could be streamed). Edit: cut extra word

The prices are much lower than a cable package.

Re: HBO Max taking on Netflix with human curation instead of relying on algorithms

#89
post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good is subjective. That’s why they have a personalization engine to make recommendations.

I don't think it is as subjective as you might think. If it was you'd expect lists like the imdb top movies of all time to be constantly in flux. Instead, they're remarkably stable. If you would have said one individual's taste is subjective or subject to more variance I might be able to agree, but with more data points it seems humans are able to more or less define good from bad objectively. Anything with 10,000 or…

Duck Dynasty is widely popular with almost 9mm viewership. It has a rating of 6.3. Breaking Bad has 1.5mm viewership and an IMDB score of 9.5. If you're Netflix, do you make invest money into a show like Duck Dynasty or like Breaking bad.

Re: HBO Max taking on Netflix with human curation instead of relying on algorithms

#90
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It feels to me like the balkanization of streaming services was inevitable and Netflix getting into the content game was just a logical response to remain relevant. If the catalog is what garners subscribers then a streaming service without its own catalog is basically fucked in the long term.

This balkanization is a good thing. I'd far rather have the choice between many competing providers each offering a service at £8/month, than have the choice to take or leave a single expensive all-in-one subscription, like cable. It's also good that market forces are driving content-creation.

No, it is not.

Not when they compete with exclusive content.

It would be good if they had the same content but compete with the UI (in such case Netflix would win, and HBO would loose, as they have the worst possible UI), streaming content etc.

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