Netflix Season Splitting: MYTH vs FACT - No Subscriber Decline Impact

Understanding Netflix's Season Splitting Decision: Confusion often surrounds Netflix's decision to split certain seasons into parts. A common misconception is that this practice is a direct result of a decline in subscribers. However, the reality is more nuanced. The decision to split seasons is primarily due to production factors, not subscriber numbers.

No Subscriber Decline Impact

It's important to clarify that the splitting of Stranger Things Season 4 had nothing to do with any loss in subscribers. Season 4 was split into parts due to the disproportionately longer runtime of the episodes. Each episode was nearly a movie length, with most episodes lasting over 90 minutes, and one even stretching to an impressive 2.5 hours.

Stranger Things has always had a consistent number of episodes per season, ranging from 8 to 9. Season 1 had 8 episodes, Season 2 had 9, Season 3 had 8, and Season 4, as initially planned, had 9 episodes. However, the total runtime of these episodes caused significant delays in the post-production process, requiring more time to complete.

Production Delays and Episode Length

The decision to split Season 4 was influenced by several factors, most notably the extended filming period due to the pandemic. The Covid Nonsense mentioned has been a significant challenge for the entertainment industry, causing considerable setbacks in the production schedule. In addition to the delays caused by the pandemic, the longer episode runtimes required more time to script, shoot, and edit, leading to a slower completion rate.

Netflix and the producers were mindful of the fanbase's anticipation to keep them engaged. Rather than prolonging the waiting period for the entire season, they opted to release the first half early. This approach allowed the post-production team to maintain momentum and efficiency in completing the remaining episodes.

Case Study: Stranger Things Season 4

To illustrate the impact of longer runtime episodes on production, consider Stranger Things Season 4. The typical runtime for a single episode of a season tends to hover around 45 to 60 minutes, with most seasons averaging approximately 8 hours. However, Season 4 was expected to exceed 12 hours in total runtime. This was primarily due to the extended runtime of the episodes.

Breaking it down, the initial 7 episodes were released to mirror the typical runtime of an average season. However, the two episodes that dropped in July were significantly longer: one 90 minutes and another stretching to 2.5 hours. This lengthening was a consequence of the increased creativity and detail required for each episode, which necessitated a slower production process.

Conclusion

Season splitting by Netflix, as in the case of Stranger Things, is a strategic move driven by production needs rather than subscriber declines. While longer runtime episodes and production delays are valid reasons for the split, they do not reflect any significant loss in subscribers. The decision to split seasons is a way to manage fan expectations and ensure high-quality content is delivered efficiently and consistently.