Netflix Extends The Preview Club Program, Users Can Watch Movies Before Release

Netflix has succeeded in attracting more subscribers by presenting the ability to view film previews. (photo: dock, Netflix)

JAKARTA - Netflix managed to attract more subscribers by presenting the ability to view film previews and TV shows before they were released on streaming platforms.

The program is dubbed the Netflixview Club, which is currently occupied by more than 2,000 subscribers who previously had VIP preview access.

Netflixview Club was first announced last year and invites viewers to share what they like and dislike, giving them the opportunity to play an integral role in what people see on Netflix.

The existing program since May 2021 will reportedly increase by 400 percent in early 2023, if the report proves to be accurate. Netflix confirmed to Variety that it is only running the program for customers in the United States (US).

"We on Netflix are building a community of members to see and provide feedback about upcoming films and series, and we want to know if you are interested in being a part of it," Netflix told Variety via email.

"It's simple, but it's a very important part of creating the best content in class for you and Netflix members around the world."

Launching TechCrunch, Friday, December 2, according to Reddit users who claim to join the program, Netflixview Club is only for invites. Customers are required to sign a agreement before watching a movie and then answer a series of survey questions.

You'll get a special Netflix account, and they email when they have a movie for you to watch. Usually, you have to watch and review it within a week," said a Reddit user.

Amazon and Hulu have similar programs, namely Amazon Review and Hulu Brain Trust, where customers offer feedback on content.

The Wall Street Journal reports that one of the films that has received a lot of responses on the Netflix Review Club is Don't Look Up, and its content creators get feedback which the film club member says is too serious so it needs to be peppered with humor before its release.

Netflix is trading, they plan to spend about 17 billion US dollars equivalent to Rp262 trillion per year on new films and TV shows over the next few years.

However, the first and second quarters of this year Netflix experienced a decline in new users, but it increased quite a bit in the third quarter. So if the expansion of the preview program proves successful, the content can further increase its customer base.