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Netflix lost 200,000 customers in the first quarter of 2022, and while a general decline in subscribers is common in the streaming service market, a net loss is unusual. Netflix's membership disaster is partly due to the suspension of service in Russia, but it is also due to its content and operational methods. Netflix is being forced to rely on and generate original episodes and films as new competitors emerge, such as Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max. The difficulty with this strategy is that when the membership fee rises, the material quality remains variable and mediocre, causing customers to turn elsewhere. As a result of the massive subscriber loss, Netflix's stock dropped, costing the firm a considerable amount of money.
While the Stranger Things season 4 release format, which repeats a mistake made by the show previously, was announced months ago, Netflix's latest turmoil can potentially give insight on this decision. Stranger Things is without a doubt one of Netflix's most popular shows, with record-breaking viewership in 2019. The three-year wait for the sci-fi drama's fourth season has only added to the buzz, so the streaming platform's decision to stagger the episodes makes sense. Netflix can stretch the demand for Stranger Things season 4 over different quarters by releasing it in May and July, maintaining and even driving membership growth.