Netflix Wants To Cancel More TV Shows, Compares Amazon To Walmart

Netflix seems to take the position that any publicity is good publicity, and fresh out of controversy at Cannes, the streaming service is making more headlines, thanks to some interesting quotes from founder and CEO Reed Hastings.

Stopping by CNBC, the executive revealed that he thinks Netflix needs to be canceling more shows and that they’ve been too successful with their original programming. “Our hit ratio is way too high right now,” Hastings said. “So, we’ve canceled very few shows … I’m always pushing the content team: We have to take more risk; you have to try more crazy things. Because we should have a higher cancel rate overall.”

It seems like strange logic, but he points to something like “13 Reasons Why,” this spring’s breakout hit for Netflix, which would likely have been too risky at any other network to take on. (Of course, this all going to by Hastings word, as Netflix continues to keep their viewership numbers secret). Essentially, it seems to be a roundabout way of saying he wants Netflix to continue pushing the envelope, rather than delivering content that would expectedly find an audience, and with plans to spend $6 billion on programming this year alone, there’s nothing stopping them from doing that.

Meanwhile, Hastings addressed his competitors over at Amazon, with praise, and a weird comparison to another big company. “They’re awfully scary, I would say. I don’t know if they are the biggest [threat], but they are awfully scary … Everything Amazon does is just so amazing. It’s like they are trying to repeal the basic laws of business … So we are continuing to watch them,” he said.

The little quip about the laws of business is pretty ironic, considering all the hot water Netflix got into with France’s distributors decrying how the streaming service skirts the theatrical distribution model there that helps support public funds for filmmakers. Not to mention that some have argued that Netflix is a broadcaster, but on the web, they don’t have to play by the same rules as HBO, for example. But that’s a whole other story.

“If we try to out-Amazon Amazon, then that’s a losing battle. So what we have to do is be the specialty play. We are trying to be Starbucks, and they are trying to be Walmart,” he added.

Again, not really sure what Hastings is going for here — both Starbucks and Walmart are pretty gross mega-corps. Sure, Starbucks may only sell coffee (and those CDs your Mom buys), but they have a pretty scorched Earth policy when it comes to setting up new locations. But yes, Walmart is a bigger business and sells everything (including movies), which Hastings is trying to point out.

Let us know what you think about all this in the comments section, and fun fact, Hastings is a fan of Ruben Ostlund‘s “Force Majeure.” [via Vulture]