Netflix tests liked ‘Grace and Frankie’ without Jane Fonda: WSJ

Melissa Moseley / Netflix

• According to The Wall Street Journal, Netflix tests showed
  that users were more likely to click on images for “Grace and
  Frankie” that didn’t include actress Jane Fonda.
• This prompted a debate between its content and tech teams,
  the Journal reported.

Netflix’s algorithm reportedly put the streaming giant between a
rock and a hard place when it came to its original series, “Grace
and Frankie.” 

The show stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as two women who find
out their husbands are having an affair with one another.
According to The Wall Street Journal, which
cited anonymous sources close to the discussions, Netflix’s tech
side found that users were more likely to click on promotion for
the show that didn’t include Fonda.

The Journal reported that this finding prompted an internal
debate within the company between Netflix’s content team, which
didn’t want to anger Fonda and argued that it could be a
violation of her contract, and its tech team, which stressed the
importance of the data.

Netflix ultimately decided to include images of Fonda, according
to the Journal, but it shows how Netflix’s Hollywood side and its
Silicon Valley side can come into conflict as the streamer leans
more into original shows and films that include top talent.

“We’ve been honored to have a groundbreaking collaboration with
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin that is going on six seasons,” Netflix
said in a statement to Business Insider. “While we always test
various creative images for every show on our service, both Jane
and Lily have been part of our promotion of the show from the
beginning.”

“Grace and Frankie” returns in 2019 for its fifth season.