Would you all explain to me how removing content we expect to have access to is a โcost savingsโ measure?
The following is from the Willow Wikipedia page, which led me to the linked URL:
The series was removed from Disney+ on May 26, 2023, amidst a Disney+ and Hulu content removal purge as part of a broader cost cutting initiative under Disney CEO Bob Iger.
Iโve been abroad for a month and earned some time off afterwards. One of my kids reminded me that we never finished Willow, so I said โletโs do it now!โ The show wasnโt perfect for many reasons, but I wanted to finish it for nostalgiaโs sake and my child legit found it interesting. Lo and behold, the series isnโt on Disney+ any more!
A quick search later, I see the above referenced quote linking to the article associated with this postโฆ which only made things worse. The Mysterious Benedict Society was something my whole family could watch and enjoy without arguments! Turner and Hooch was dorky, but something my youngest loved and it was a super safe and easy pick for us bond over.
This post isnโt about whether the shows are good. And it isnโt about how nearly every show I like ends up cancelled. The point is that I paid for access, they were then quietly removed (for various platforms), and I have zero understanding as to how this saves these companies money.
Would someone explain?
P. S. Yes, I know this is old news. However, this is just how I am. Iโm not up to date with anything in the entertainment world. I intentionally wait a few seasons for things because I loath when shows are cancelled after a season. (Iโm looking at you, Firefly.) Iโm the same way with books, often waiting to read a trilogy after its published because I donโt like the wait in between books. (Thanks, Rothfuss).
I just donโt take cancellation wells, especially when I was on top of everything including summer podcasts and such. (Now anything with the names Abrams, Lindelof, or Cuse makes my skin crawl.)
I know. Iโm weird and stuff.
Yes, this is what I was thinking was the matter. And someone else in this thread posted at a guardian link saying something to the same effect. Itโs still mind-boggling to me that to save money the answer is to remove everything completely. It feels like these big production companies are failing people and their use of the tax system is furthering that so they can save money. It just seems strange that they have to axe a show from existence to be able to prove it as a loss to the government.