Porque o Netflix é mais adequado para o tipo de programa que o Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage e Iron fist querem ser. Mais adulto do que voar em canais de transmissão como o ABC, e não adequado para os canais da marca Disney (programação de desenho animado e adolescente). E a Netflix ofereceu benefícios substanciais que o modelo de transmissão tradicional não oferecia Direto da boca dos cavalos :
Produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Television Studios, this groundbreaking deal is Marvel’s most ambitious foray yet into live-action TV storytelling.
"This deal is unparalleled in its scope and size, and reinforces our commitment to deliver Marvel's brand, content and characters across all platforms of storytelling. Netflix offers an incredible platform for the kind of rich storytelling that is Marvel’s specialty," said Alan Fine, President of Marvel Entertainment. "This serialized epic expands the narrative possibilities of on-demand television and gives fans the flexibility to immerse themselves how and when they want in what's sure to be a thrilling and engaging adventure."
Eles também sentiram que a história do formato semanal seria insuficiente para a série Defenders. O binge assistindo (on-demand) fator torna os shows mais como filmes Avengers, do que um típico programa de TV. O comprovado histórico de conteúdo original da Netflix, o primeiro de um serviço de vídeo não tradicional, ajuda a impulsionar isso.
"Marvel’s movies, such as 'Iron Man' and 'Marvel’s The Avengers,' are huge favorites on our service around the world. Like Disney, Marvel is a known and loved brand that travels," said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. "With 'House of Cards' and our other original series, we have pioneered new approaches to storytelling and to global distribution and we're thrilled to be working with Disney and Marvel to take our brand of television to new levels with a creative project of this magnitude."
Além disso, o tamanho das estações não se ajusta aos padrões de exibição típicos dos EUA. Uma série típica dos EUA exige cerca de 26 episódios (menos se for cancelada). Netflix estava disposta a fazer mini-séries de 13. Você poderia argumentar que a ABC poderia mostrar uma série de 13 episódios, mas o público normal da ABC não iria apreciá-lo. Netflix também estava disposto a fazer isso cego.
There was nothing small, however, about the size of Marvel’s pitch: It wanted an upfront order of all five series, without pilot episodes. That approach seemed to rule out broadcast networks like ABC, which, like Marvel, is owned by Walt Disney, and which carries other Marvel series, like the espionage adventure “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (After a widely watched debut in the fall of 2013, “S.H.I.E.L.D.” has cooled off in its second season, drawing about 4 million to 5 million live viewers an episode.)
Netflix, the streaming video service, had started its political thriller “House of Cards” with a two-season guarantee, and was willing to make an even bigger commitment to the “Defenders” project.
Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer, said of striking the deal with Marvel, “We were taking what I thought was a pretty measured bet on someone with a great track record of serving a very discriminating fan base.” Although his initiation into the series was somewhat rapid, Mr. DeKnight said the Netflix model allowed “Daredevil” to spend an entire season gradually unpacking the origins of its characters.
“When you’re working on a network show, especially a pilot, the notes you get are, basically, ‘Cram the entire first season into that first episode, so everybody knows what they’re going to get,’ ” he said. On Netflix, Mr. DeKnight said: “It really is the exact opposite. It’s more, ‘Slow things down, let it breathe, explore it.’ ”
Mais uma vez, o fator de relógio compulsivo ajuda. Netflix não acha que seu público tem TDAH. Nenhuma recapitulação estúpida a cada início de episódio, nenhum retrocesso em cada intervalo comercial. Esses minutos se somam.
The Netflix model also means that subsequent episodes don’t have to spend time recapitulating what happened in previous installments. “We had a brief discussion about it,” he said, “and decided: ‘Eh, why does that matter? People are going to binge-watch this.’ ”