Netflix 'Recommendations' Sure Look Like Commercials...
*By Conor White*
Netflix's newest feature may only be in the testing phase, but it's causing an uproar on social media. The streaming giant will insert "recommendations" between episodes of shows, and many critics argue these suggestions are [just commercials](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/20/business/media/netflix-commercials-videos-ads.html) by another name. Users complained over the weekend that promotional videos ー which can last up to 20 seconds ー were interrupting their viewing time, and some even threatened to cancel their subscriptions.
Austin Powell, managing editor at the Daily Dot, said it's a "bad look" for Netflix.
"I just want the content, I just want my show," he said Monday in an interview on Cheddar. "It's a regressive move, and I think it's indicative of a lot of other issues."
Netflix posted [less-than-stellar](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2018-07-16/netflix-troubles-may-have-ripple-effects-research-affiliates-ceo-says-video) second-quarter numbers in July, with new subscriber tallies [falling short](http://fortune.com/2018/07/16/netflix-stock-drops/) of expectations.
With more than 80 original series slated for release this year, Powell said this may be an act of desperation for Netflix.
"They just don't know how to market all of that content," he said. "There's literally too much for them to work with and for you to know what to watch, and so they're having to really force this onto the user in a way that's not really that pleasant."
While Netflix seems to believe viewers are having trouble discovering new content, Powell said it's a simple matter of quality, not quantity.
"To me, the real issue here is content. Netflix in 2018 hasn't had a breakout hit like 'Stranger Things' or 'Making A Murderer' and they're just trying to force this."
Still, investors seem to be shrugging off user backlash ー shares of Netflix ended a six-day losing streak and were up more than 3 percent on Monday.
For full interview, [click here] (https://cheddar.com/videos/new-on-netflix-commercials).
Airlines around the world cancel or change flights ahead of Verizon and AT&T's 5G rollout. The two wireless companies agreed to temporarily delay the launch of the new service near some key airports, after airlines warned the 5G signals could interfere with certain aviation equipment. Jonathan Adelstein, president and CEO of the Wireless Infrastructure Association, joined Cheddar News to discuss.
Thrive Market is a health-first membership for conscious living, with a mission to make healthy and sustainable living easy and accessible. Nick Green, CEO and co-founder, chatted with Cheddar's Baker Machado about the company's approach and new ventures in 2022. "I grew up outside of Minneapolis, middle class, middle America, and really saw firsthand how hard my mom had to work to put healthy food on the table, on a budget, without a health food store nearby," he said. "Twenty-some years later we looked around and just thought it was crazy that millions of Americans are still struggling with the same thing, and we decided to change it." Recently the brand released a line of organic frozen products and will be introducing new beauty and home brands.
In the ongoing saga of AT&T and Verizon versus airlines over the U.S. rollout of 5G near airports, the telecom giants have agreed to delay some deployments. The decision came after arguments that the technology could pose a threat to the safety and security of flights. However, AT&T countered that airlines had two years to prepare for this rollout date.
In what could be the biggest deal in video games history, Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard underlines the company's aggressive push in gaming and beyond into its long-term vision of being top dog in the metaverse. Adam Hollander, former director of gamification at Microsoft and founder of Hungry Wolves NFT, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss. “Microsoft always plays chess, not checkers," he said, describing the price tag as an opportunity cost. "It's about integrating Activision Blizzard in with Azure and Windows and Xbox and Hololens and Minecraft and everything else that they're doing for the inevitable goal of being the major player in the next phase of the internet."
Telecom giants AT&T and Verizon have agreed to delay activating their 5G services around airports and runways once again. This comes after major U.S. airlines voiced their concern over the rollout of 5G technology, warning of an impending "catastrophic" aviation crisis. Peter Andersen, Chief Investment Officer, Anderson Capital Management joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
Earnings season kicks into high gear this week as big players are on tap to report their Q4 numbers. Goldman Sachs, Procter & Gamble, United Airlines, and Netflix are just a few of the companies we're keeping a close eye on to give us a better idea of how they're dealing with the Omicron variant, inflation and interest rates. David Nelson, chief strategist at Belpointe, gives a preview of what to expect.
Thomas Hayes, Chairman at Great Hill Capital, joined Wake Up With Cheddar to break down what to look for on the economic front in the coming months amid an Omicron surge and planned interest rate hikes.
