Was discussing this recently with a student after class. How Netflix & Prime, 2 cos who very much lean progressive in terms of content production and promotion in the US, have become very "neutral" in India in recent years. Clearly a strategic choice. Kinda understandable.
https://twitter.com/KRCopywriter/status/1503649488497352706
You have to remember that Netflix, Amazon, are at the end of the day, publicly traded companies mainly making their money in the US.
And the biggest difference between the US & India is that the most lucrative customer segments are all heavily progressive. It's where big $ are.
And the biggest difference between the US & India is that the most lucrative customer segments are all heavily progressive. It's where big $ are.
In India, the most lucrative customer segments lean conservative.
Netflix isn't some social justice warrior in the US. It sees in its data that it makes more sense for it in the short term and the medium term and the long term to be more progressive, more diverse, not less.
Netflix isn't some social justice warrior in the US. It sees in its data that it makes more sense for it in the short term and the medium term and the long term to be more progressive, more diverse, not less.
Another big difference between the US and India is that in the US, the laws and systems and even cultural norms are such that at least in the 21st century, the government can't really do anything to entertainment companies for saying trash about them. At the most, angry tweets.
So Netflix or NBC or Oscars or anyone could greenlight as much Trump bashing GOP bashing harshly critically stuff as they wanted and all Trump could do was hate tweet. He tried a lot to weaponize the FCC but couldn't.
In India though, the government can shut you down in a day!
In India though, the government can shut you down in a day!
I'm not saying there isn't any money to be made pushing conservative stuff in the US. It just doesn't make sense for the big corporations. Why the whole Fox News New York Post trump loving thing is very much a personal Murdoch obsession, not a smart Newscorp strategy.
One of the under-appreciated triumphs of the US progressive-liberal movement in the 21st century is to become economically and vocally important enough to "weaponize" large corporations against intolerant conservative policies. Unthinkable in the 20th century.
One of the biggest global brands, Nike, has been on board with #BlackLivesMatter from day 1. Including their committed support of Kaepernick even through Trump years and very loud boycott threats.
Is it because Nike shareholders and management are just so so very liberal?
Is it because Nike shareholders and management are just so so very liberal?
They might be. I hope they are. But the thing is, Nike really had no choice. Look at their customer base, look at the growing segments, look where the money is, look who is paying the big bucks for a pair of shoes, look at who their biggest celebrity endorsements are.
Also, Nike management, presumably well meaning good people, didn't face any real harsh damaging consequences of taking a position that the President of the United States dumped on every week. Cos Trump really couldn't do anything to them other than tweet angrily.
India is the exact opposite in both dimensions. Why it is pointless to expect any global corporations to seriously stand up to Modi like they stand up to Trump.
The money is with the conservatives and the laws and the culture lean towards censorship, not protecting free speech.
The money is with the conservatives and the laws and the culture lean towards censorship, not protecting free speech.
This is a triumph of American progressives. Not just the Democratic party, although it does usually play a reliable vocal role in these issues, but even grassroots organizers.
In just one generation, they changed the culture enough to make bigotry bad for shareholders.
In just one generation, they changed the culture enough to make bigotry bad for shareholders.
Been thinking a lot of these issues since this course got approved and listed and I have to teach it in just 5 months and I have to build everything from scratch!
So y'all gonna see a lot of threads where I test out my "scripts" hehe.
So y'all gonna see a lot of threads where I test out my "scripts" hehe.
https://twitter.com/gauravsabnis/status/1453652486569484293?t=FTHvzxML0q2S_9BOjp-VHw&s=19
Shareholders care about profit. Make it unprofitable to be a bigot and the suits have no option but to change into shorts and t-shirts.
Until 20 years ago, few big companies took visibly political positions. Especially on social issues. Now most do.
Cos $ above all.
Until 20 years ago, few big companies took visibly political positions. Especially on social issues. Now most do.
Cos $ above all.
Of course, in India, suits changing into shorts is a metaphor that works in the other direction 🙄
This is another thing. Much like with all things fascist, reality is opposite to the propaganda. Doing business in India, never easy, has actually gotten way less easier in the 8 Modi years. There are newer ways for the govt to punish or kill businesses.
https://twitter.com/Pradeep22587909/status/1503658734085582849?t=xTHElYCC6C7PizvqvoaV0A&s=19
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