Netflix is reportedly making it easier to get exclusive early access to its movies and tv shows

Travis Clark
Updated ·2 min read

More users are going to get early access to Netflix's films and TV shows — and the opportunity to give feedback on that content — according to a new report.

  • Netflix is expanding its "Preview Club" to tens of thousands of members, according to The Wall Street Journal.

  • The club gets early access to some movies and TV shows, and gives Netflix feedback.

  • The group's feedback led to changes to "Don't Look Up," for instance, according to WSJ.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that the company is planning to expand its "Netflix Preview Club" from 2,000-plus members to "tens of thousands" of global subscribers in 2023.

This group of users can watch certain films and TV shows in advance, and gives Netflix feedback on that content through surveys. The group's feedback can be reflected in changes to the streamer's content.

One example is Netflix's movie "Don't Look Up," which was made more comedic after Netflix received feedback that it originally "came across as too serious," according to WSJ.

Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

"Don't Look Up" ended up being Netflix's second most-watched movie ever and was nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture.

Variety had previously reported on the existence of the exclusive club earlier this year after obtaining an email sent to  selected subscribers.

"We at Netflix are building a community of members to view and give feedback on upcoming movies and series, and we'd like to know if you're interested in being a part of it," the email said, according to Variety. "It's simple, but an incredibly important part of creating best-in-class content for you and Netflix members all around the world."

Users invited to the "Preview Club" aren't the only people who see Netflix content in advance.

Employees have access to movies and shows ahead of time, and Netflix pays attention to their completion rates and other viewing habits, according to WSJ.

Only a small portion of Netflix employees had finished its "Sandman" series, for instance, prompting Netflix to make changes before it was released on the service, WSJ reported.

Keeping users happy is essential for Netflix, especially at a time of economic uncertainty and change in the streaming landscape.

Netflix lost subscribers during the first two quarters of the year, the first time in its history it lost customers for two straight quarters.

While it rebounded in Q3 with subscriber additions, and now boasts 223 million paid members worldwide, it's started to make changes to address the issue, including introducing a cheaper ad-based plan and cracking down on password sharing.

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