[Uzo0312]

That's a great point. I think both things probably need to be done. We took the distribution route, because ultimately we believe it's the direct relationship with the consumer that will allow for this to work. As a production company, you're a step away from the end-user, so you're at the mercy of a distribution company that has more than just the black audience to worry about. But if a company is solely focused on a single niche, like so many tech companies out there, the economics for super-serving that niche are a lot better.

[mbesto]

> We took the distribution route, because ultimately we believe it's the direct relationship with the consumer that will allow for this to work.

Be honest. It's less capital intensive, with much higher valuations.

[Uzo0312]

Generally, your points about capital and valuations are true. Of course, I could argue Netflix is way more capital intensive than any production company. And then, with Hello Sunshine and others, we're seeing production companies get Venture scale exits. So while I hear your point, those honestly weren't factors for us. It was more so about owning the relationship with the end-user.

[jacquesm]

There had to be a friendlier way to make that comment.

[brodouevencode]

But it would take Netflix just one or two demo-specific properties to win that demo back. Unless the goal is to be acquired.

[swman]

It’s a yc (VC backed) company. You know the goal.

[yaacov]

It doesn’t have to be either-or, lots of people have multiple streaming services

[Veen]

But what are you going to distribute if no one is making high-quality media for Black people?

[thisthat112233]

I think what he's suggesting is that lack of distribution may be contributing to / causing the lack of quality black programming. By setting up a distribution company, they can now create a channel for quality work that exists but isn't currently being distributed.

[Miner49er]

I think we're already well past the point of return on that. It's not the 90s anymore where everyone watches the same 2 sitcoms or whatever. There's YouTube, Twitch, and like a dozen different streaming services out there. People don't all watch the same stuff anymore.

I assume you are just as critical of things like Crunchyroll?

[tekromancr]

Nothing is stopping you from consuming content that centers Black people. There has been an absolute renesance in the last few years of stories that focus on black lives in ways that haven't really been told in pop culture before, especially in TV.

And the best part is these shows are good! They are really fucking good!

Nothing is stopping you from consuming that content and incorporating into that homogeneous base upon which you build your interactions.