Gaspin said that its a social experiment paired with a singing competition.
Thats what we like to do at Netflix, we like to twist it a little bit.
Its not just completely straightforward, its not a show youve seen elsewhere, he said.
Rhythm + Flow - Season 2 with Ludacris, Latto, DJ KhaledEli Joshua Adé/Netflix
We like to say that were looking for a fresh take on the familiar.
There hasnt been a new U.S.-based boy band in a while, he added.
The latter was handed asecond season in 2020but itstaken close to five years for it to return.
Rhythm + Flow(Netflix)
Gaspin said thatRhythm + Flowwas broader than youd imagine.
Netflix is really the only place you could make that show and have it be authentic.
Its something that that most broadcasters and even other streamers, would have to sort of stay away from.
When I originally pitched it, that was the pushback from just about every other [buyer].
Gaspin added that the streamer has high expectations when it returns later this year.
At that time, HBO was the gold standard of original programming.
Prestige elite programming plays a very important role in culture.
But its very small.
Its a boutique business.
Were currently programming for about 650 million people around the world.
We have to have a very broad variety of things that people watch and love, he said.
Netflixs latest push into the world of unscripted entertainmentcomes at an uncertain time for producers.
I was a producer three months ago so Im very familiar with this marketplace.
Its not unhealthy but its not as healthy as it once was.
At Netflix, its still quite healthy because the business model works.
Gaspin has an interesting observation as to why this is the case.
A lot of broadcast production companies focused on cable over the years, very successfully.
Our preference is to own the world rights with these formats.
At Netflix, you have a better chance of creating a global hit.
Would Netflix considerBridgerton: The Dating ShoworaNight Agentcompetition series?
Im a fan of IP, it gives you an entry point, and it gives you some familiarity.
Not every piece of scripted content should be unscripted.
You have to be careful.
It falls within IP and why I like IP, he said.
Game shows are another area that Gaspin is hunting in.
I would like to be able to try a game show or two.
But I dont think it could be the traditional closed-ended game show.
Were a binge model for the most part and that means were dropping all the episodes at once.
Do you have to come back to it?
Is there a driving force to make you come back?, he said.
Gaspin said that there are pockets of shows that will continue, but this is no longer the focus.
We are going to venture to lean into bold new formats.
That is a shift in our focus, he added.
That show, which comes from Kinetic Content, premiered in 2020 and just aired its sixth season.
Obviously, thats not true of every unscripted show.
But I think part of the reason is, its not that hard to adjust course.
you’re free to change a cast every season so it freshens it up.
Those new casts allow you to create different kinds of drama and different types of storytelling.
Gaspin said that these decisions are a little different than broadcast networks looking at the ratings.
He said his first full slate is likely 18 months away.
