Sons of Anarchy (SOA) was removed from Netflix primarily as a retaliatory move by the streaming service against Disney, which owns the rights to the show. This decision coincided with the impending launch of Disney+, a direct competitor in the streaming market.
The Strategic Shift in Streaming Rights
The removal of Sons of Anarchy from Netflix was a direct consequence of the escalating competition in the streaming industry. As major media companies like Disney began to develop their own streaming platforms, they started reclaiming their valuable content to populate these new services.
- Content Ownership: Disney holds the rights to Sons of Anarchy. With the creation of Disney+, the company aimed to centralize its vast library of movies and TV shows across its own platforms, rather than licensing them to competitors.
- Competitive Landscape: Netflix's decision to remove the show was a strategic response to this shift. As a major content provider, Disney's move to launch its own service signaled a significant change in how content would be distributed. The show's producer, Kurt Sutter, acknowledged that Netflix viewed this as a retaliatory action against Disney's increasing foray into the streaming space.
- Exclusivity and Library Building: Streaming services are in a constant battle for subscriber attention, and exclusive content is a key differentiator. Companies like Disney are investing heavily in building robust libraries for their own platforms, leading to the gradual disappearance of popular titles from competitor services.
Impact on Viewers
For fans of Sons of Anarchy, its removal from Netflix meant they had to seek out the show on other platforms. This trend is increasingly common as the streaming landscape fragments, with content becoming exclusive to specific services. Viewers now often need subscriptions to multiple platforms to access all their desired shows and movies.
This move by Netflix highlights the dynamic and often aggressive strategies employed by major players in the streaming wars. Content licensing agreements are constantly under review, and the ownership of intellectual property plays a critical role in where shows and movies ultimately reside.
