Netflix to Add Films and TV Series for Teenagers
Anthony Padilla, left, and Ian Andrew Hecox in “Smosh: The Movie,” a Netflix exclusive aimed at teenagers and “tweens.”
Netflix is entering the awkward teenage years, at least with its latest programming push.
The company is adding to its streaming service a number of exclusive films and television series focused on teenagers and “tweens,” as part of a strategy to position itself as a digital entertainment hub for the postmillennial generation.
Netflix has licensed two films from popular YouTube personalities, including “Smosh: The Movie” from the creators of the YouTube comedy channel of the same name, which has over 21 million YouTube subscribers; and “Bad Night,” featuring the YouTube stars Jenn McAllister and Lauren Luthringshausen.
It also has picked up “Lost & Found Music Studios,” a half-hour original series about a group of young musicians; “Degrassi: Next Class” about homophobia, racism, substance abuse and other issues teenagers face as they prepare to enter adulthood; and “Fuller House,” the much-anticipated sequel to the 1990s hit sitcom “Full House.”
Netflix is trying to fill a void that exists broadly, Erik Barmack, Netflix’s vice president for global independent content, said in an interview last week. Mr. Barmack said that while a number of traditional and digital outlets offered programming that appealed to younger children and young adults, scripted entertainment focused on teenagers was scarce. “In the on-demand world, there isn’t a place where there is lots of great scripted shows and movies that are catering to that audience,” he said. “That is both an opportunity and a challenge.”
With the new series and films, Netflix enters a fierce popularity contest to take over that programming space, as start-ups and traditional media companies — like YouNow, Snapchat, YouTube, MTV and Disney try to win over viewers who are growing up in a streaming world.
The challenge is to capture the attention of an audience known for its elusive and fickle tastes. Celebrities and trends often are fleeting, and it is unclear whether a star’s popularity on an outlet like YouTube will translate to other outlets like television or film.
Traditional media organizations have faced stark challenges keeping pace with the fast-shifting habits of young viewers. As tweens and teenagers spend a surging amount of time on apps and the web, the amount of time they are spending watching traditional television is plummeting. MTV, long considered the hot spot for teenagers, suffered a 17 percent decline in ratings in the second quarter of this year compared with a year earlier, according to analysts’ estimates. …
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