[Uzo0312]

That's a great point. I think both things probably need to be done. We took the distribution route, because ultimately we believe it's the direct relationship with the consumer that will allow for this to work. As a production company, you're a step away from the end-user, so you're at the mercy of a distribution company that has more than just the black audience to worry about. But if a company is solely focused on a single niche, like so many tech companies out there, the economics for super-serving that niche are a lot better.

[mbesto]

> We took the distribution route, because ultimately we believe it's the direct relationship with the consumer that will allow for this to work.

Be honest. It's less capital intensive, with much higher valuations.

[Uzo0312]

Generally, your points about capital and valuations are true. Of course, I could argue Netflix is way more capital intensive than any production company. And then, with Hello Sunshine and others, we're seeing production companies get Venture scale exits. So while I hear your point, those honestly weren't factors for us. It was more so about owning the relationship with the end-user.

[jacquesm]

There had to be a friendlier way to make that comment.

[yhoneycomb]

Yeah what the heck lol

"Be honest" is the same as "you're a liar"

[brodouevencode]

But it would take Netflix just one or two demo-specific properties to win that demo back. Unless the goal is to be acquired.

[swman]

It’s a yc (VC backed) company. You know the goal.

[dang]

Hmm, interesting comment: it could mean either of two opposite things, but that makes it self-contradictory!

Just for clarity, when YC funds a company, the goal is not to have it get acquired. It's to have it go public. Acquisition interrupts that, so it's a suboptimal outcome. That said, YC supports what founders want to do.

[swman]

True. I was making a simple blanket statement that for most VC backed companies you can be sure the end goal is either acquisition or successful ipo.

[jacquesm]

How many YC companies ended up going public out of the total? And how large is that total? What is the expected timeframe from launch to IPO? How many companies still outside of that window? Those would be interesting stats to have.

[dang]

Sorry, I don't know the answers—but few so far (fewer than 10 I think). More in the last couple years though. It takes a long time. I'll see if I can convince someone who knows more than I do to comment here.

[jacquesm]

Thank you!

[yaacov]

It doesn’t have to be either-or, lots of people have multiple streaming services

[emodendroket]

I read the average American has four. Seems like more than one person could reasonably watch but maybe I'm just not devoted enough to television.

[Veen]

But what are you going to distribute if no one is making high-quality media for Black people?

[thisthat112233]

I think what he's suggesting is that lack of distribution may be contributing to / causing the lack of quality black programming. By setting up a distribution company, they can now create a channel for quality work that exists but isn't currently being distributed.