# How does streaming vs viewing live or OnDemand or DV impact the networks decision on renewing shows?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-streaming-vs-viewing-live-or-ondemand-or-dv-impact-the-networks-decision-on-renewing-shows/782038>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 12, 2017, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-streaming-vs-viewing-live-or-ondemand-or-dv-impact-the-networks-decision-on-renewing-shows/782038 "2017-03-12T23:02:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
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**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-streaming-vs-viewing-live-or-ondemand-or-dv-impact-the-networks-decision-on-renewing-shows/782038/5 "2017-03-13T00:12:42Z")

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Also:

> [@Legion (show on FX)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legion-show-on-fx/779378/92):
>
> Of COURSE you do, because using the ratings in the first place is a DUMB system that no longer reflects the true popularity of a show.

Ratings aren’t about popularity, they’re about counting how many people watched. They are not a DUMB system for that purpose.

Imagine you just spent $100 million producing a tentpole movie for your movie studio. Movies live or die on opening day, so you need to get butts in seats this weekend or your entire studio might begin a death spiral.

In this hypothetical scenario, do you care at all that special snowflakes will be watching Show X in four months during a binge weekend? No, of course not. You care about reaching people **this week** , and will pay tons of money to make that happen.

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