People arn’t going to continue subscribing to HBO because they had a bunch of shows they liked 10 years ago. They subscribe because of new things they want to watch.

At any one time HBO has about 3 to 5 shows a year that I like. Netflix seems to have about the same ratio. Netflix’s firehose seems to ensure they have at least a few shows most people like. Without the cable TV lock-in HBO is going to have to do something to convince people to keep payng more for less.

OITNB is a Netflix show, which makes my point for me.

Season 5 of The Wire was just about a decade ago, and it was abbreviated because it didn't get great ratings.

Carnivale was cancelled for low ratings after its second season. I'm not saying it's bad (it was a mess, though). I'm saying that HBO has to do more things like Carnivale, on a much faster schedule, if it's going to keep up with Netflix.

Not only is OITNB on Netflix, but it has, in the manner of all Jenji Kohan efforts, turned _quite awful_.