My initial reaction was, "NO!"
After thinking about it, this doesn't seem like a bad idea. I'm always looking for my next show to binge- right now I'm watching the sci-fi show Lost in Space, dark and thrilling. If Netflix played me a preview for a show that's not on my radar, fine!
I just want the option of skipping to the next episode if it seems like a crappy series.
For the past few years, Netflix has automatically started playing the next episode of a show as the last one was finishing, to increase the odds that people stay on the couch a little bit longer.
Now Netflix users might start to see ads for other shows during those countdown seconds, as the streaming giant has said it is testing out recommendations.
"We are testing whether surfacing recommendations between episodes helps members discover stories they will enjoy faster,"
it said in a statement given to the website Cord Cutters.
Netflix has also mentioned that viewers will be able to skip such ads for other shows. (Yay!)
A Netflix spokesperson said that the company does hundreds of tests a year to help people find content and added: "A couple of years ago, we introduced video previews to the TV experience, because we saw that it significantly cut the time members spend browsing and helped them find something they would enjoy watching even faster. Since then, we have been experimenting even more with video based on personalized recommendations for shows and movies on the service or coming shortly, and continue to learn from our members.
In this particular case, we are testing whether surfacing recommendations between episodes helps members discover stories they will enjoy faster. It is important to note that a member is able to skip a video preview at anytime if they are not interested."
Source: CNBC