Lisa Hamilton Daly, a prominent executive at Netflix, has been vocal about the evolving expectations in the television streaming industry. Speaking at various industry panels, including the Banff Media Festival, she has shared insights into how platforms can better identify untapped viewing opportunities. Her key takeaway is based on knowing when and why people are watching different types of content. To this end, she especially calls out the persistent intolerance toward initiatives that seek to address, create or fortify women’s emotional intelligence.
Daly, an industry veteran recognized in the Wonder Women honors, emphasizes that the landscape of streaming services continues to undergo substantial transformation. She noted that in addition to “Virgin River”, “Sweet Magnolias” has experienced tremendous success. This just validates her conviction that there’s a huge audience demand for content that’s actually brave enough to go deep into women’s emotional journeys. These victories highlight that truly creative programming can move beyond formulas that tie hands and squelch creativity. That doesn’t mean it can’t still succeed and resonate with a wider audience.
Transforming Television Through Female-Centric Storytelling
In her testimony, Daly has laid out a sensible roadmap for a more equitable and inclusive streaming ecosystem. As someone who’s been in the industry for a long time, she knows that changing audience expectations require more than just different tactics for content curation. “I think good storytelling that comes from really talented people will always continue to find a home,” she stated, underscoring the importance of quality narratives driven by authentic voices.
Daly’s passion for changing the narrative on television shines through in her sensitivity toward women’s stories. She is convinced that there’s huge, untapped demand for programming that focuses on community, relationality and emotional truth. Her work at Netflix is a testament to this belief as she continues to pursue producing work that speaks to broad, multicultural audiences.
“I was able to create this content that actually turned out to be some of the most acquisitive content they had because it was grabbing viewers that they had never had before,” – Lisa Hamilton Daly
The Necessity of Long-Term Planning
Daly underscores the importance of foresight when it comes to programming decisions. As an executive, he’s deeply involved in bringing stories from idea to screen. She points out that productions usually need two to three years lead time from initial concept to actual show. This development timeline puts executives in a position of needing to predict audience needs years in the future, just to be relevant and engaging.
Unlike traditional network television, where the valuable viewers are 18 to 34, it doesn’t matter on a streamer; you want everybody because they’re 5.99 or whatever it is now on Netflix is equally valuable as anyone else’s,” Daly explained. This expansive approach makes room for a wider range of programming and opens space for emerging genres, established subcultures, and more avant-garde movements to flourish.
Daly’s thoughts speak to a broader industry awakening in which platforms are understanding the importance of inclusive and intersectional storytelling. By appealing to multiple demographics with unique stories and leaning into emotional, character-driven arcs, streaming services can build a more loyal audience.
Uncovering Untapped Opportunities in Content
Daly’s more recent Netflix experiences have given her a unique perspective on impactful audience engagement strategies. She stresses that platforms can identify opportunities they’ve missed before by paying attention to what audiences are watching and what they want. Her side encourages you to think behind the surface of what audiences want other than just a good time.
She hasn’t seen much of a shift in the bias against programming that caters to women’s feelings. She feels this bias is killing the possibilities for so many amazing stories. By challenging this bias, Daly aims to open pathways for stories that resonate on a more personal level with viewers.
“I know there are programmers who are more based on algorithms or research or whatever, and I find that all of those are helpful tools, but they don’t replace a good gut instinct,” – Lisa Hamilton Daly
At its core, Daly is a proponent of the data and intuition approach. This two-pronged approach can open the door to breakthrough storytelling that deeply engages your audiences while authentically meeting them where they are emotionally.
