Netflix is one of the biggest and most popular streaming services in the world, known for hits shows like Stranger Things and The Witcher and original movies like Extraction, The Irishman, and many more. From time to time, though, Netflix removes content from its library–but why?
The answer is pretty simple. Netflix pays movie and TV studios to license their content around the world, and those deals aren’t good forever. Netflix would presumably want to keep as much content available for as long as possible, but this isn’t always possible due licensing arrangements. As such, some titles have to leave the Netflix library.
In a post on its website, Netflix explained that when a licensing contract for a film or TV show is coming up on its expiration date, the company considers a variety of elements. First off, Netflix needs to determine if the rights remain available. If they are available for extension, Netflix considers the popularity of a show, region-by-region, along with what a new licensing arrangement might cost.