Over the past year, dozens of shows have been disappearing from streaming platforms like HBO Max and Showtime. Shows like Minx, Made for Love, FBoy Island, and even big budget hits like Westworld have been removed entirely. So why did these platforms, after investing millions of dollars in creating original content, decide not just to cancel those shows, but to make them unavailable altogether? We dive into the economics of the television industry looking for answers to a streaming mystery that has affected both fans and creatives. And we find out what happens when the stream runs dry. This episode was produced by Willa Rubin with help from Emma Peaslee. It was edited by Keith Romer. Engineering by Josh Newell. Sierra Juarez checked the facts. Jess Jiang is our acting executive producer. We want to hear your thoughts on the show! We have a short, anonymous survey we'd love for you to fill out: n.pr/pmsurvey Help support Planet Money and get bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
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When it comes to sifting through the overwhelming amount of streaming tv shows these days, M.
Lund has a pretty simple strategy.
I don't watch things to the end if I don't like them.
If a show doesn't hold me for the first few episodes, I'm like, well, it's not for me.
You don't fall for the sunk costs fallacy.
No time is precious.
My attention is precious.
So last fall, when she got hooked on a new HBO Max show called Made for Love, it was kind of a big deal.
The show is a sort of dystopian dark comedy about a woman trying to leave her tech billionaire husband only to find out that hes implanted a chip in her brain, a prototype for a chip he wants to sell to the public as a way to help couples sync up.