Bring back DVD special features to streaming services

In the age of streaming, fans have more access to entertainment than ever before. But as TV shows and films have moved from DVD box sets to streaming platforms, something has been lost: the special features. From deleted scenes to behind-the-scenes commentary, this bonus content offered an inside look at the creative process and gave fans a chance to feel closer to the worlds they love. It’s time to bring that experience back.

Fans hold the power, and streaming services should listen

Fans hold all the power when it comes to entertainment. Understanding who they are, what they think and most importantly, what they want, is vital to entertainment providers from football clubs to broadcasters. But being a fan is so much more than just consuming media or buying merch — it’s a sense of identity and a feeling of connection.

Fans want to own intimate details about the shows and films they adore. Insider information that feels special between them, the actors and the creators. DVD special features were once the answer to this longing, but since streaming services took over the game — bonus content has largely disappeared. 

Fans are always hungry for more

As an entertainment lover, it won’t be a surprise to learn I’ve been an obsessive fan in the past. One of my first loves was the early 2000s Sky One football drama Dream Team. I set up an MSN fan community and a Harchester United faux fanzine called Peggs Monthly. My friends and I would write letters to the creator, sharing ideas for plots and spin-offs. One episode a week wasn’t enough, so we built our own creative world around the show.

Then Lost came along, a show that perfectly captured the spirit of fan engagement. Fan forums and bulletin boards meant there was additional reading to get stuck into — there were ambiguities in the narrative and everyone had their own theory. Adding to feverish speculation was The Official Lost Podcast, featuring interviews with the cast and insight from the executive producers. But we were hungry for more.

What are special features?

For those of us who grew up on DVD box sets, special features were an essential part of the experience. Deleted scenes, bloopers, easter eggs, audio commentary, and behind-the-scenes filming locations and stunts. Nowadays, box sets have a different meaning.

Streamers and digital platforms use the term to describe having all the episodes in one place to binge-watch. But where’s the additional content? What if streaming services brought back special features? Would it make fans even more loyal to their favourite shows? Would it help to make fans out of casual viewers? There’s huge potential here to add an extra layer to the world of fandom.

The benefits of special features for streaming services and fans

• Encourage re-watching

Even though there’s always something new to watch, bonus content can encourage viewers to rewatch a show that they previously enjoyed. For streaming services, that also means more time spent on the platform, and an increase in viewership. It’s a win-win.

• Bridge the gap between seasons

The wait time between seasons is growing and growing. Take Bridgerton, for example. Fans were devastated to learn that the next season wouldn’t air until 2026, a two year wait. Bonus content can be a good way to reconnect viewers with previous seasons before the new one kicks off.

• Expand the scope of extra content

Special features could encourage both SVoD and BVoD platforms to commission additional content around their most loved shows. The ‘reunion’ has become a popular format within the reality world — so could there be an equivalent in other genres?

• Keep viewers coming back

The best way to advertise new content on a platform is to make sure viewers keep coming back. While not every viewer will engage with bonus content, it’s likely to draw some fans back, especially when new seasons or shows are released on the platform.

• Cost-effective to produce

Creating bonus content doesn’t have to be expensive. While some special features might require location, hair and makeup, and props, features like audio commentary don’t need a huge budget — just a couple of microphones and a mixing desk. Making it a cost-effective way to add value.

Your move, streamers!

Creating special features and bonus content is an opportunity for streaming services and broadcasters to build deeper, more meaningful relationships with viewers. When fans feel like they’re getting something exclusive, something that other viewers don’t have access to, it creates a sense of loyalty and connection.

There are countless shows and films that would benefit from an extra layer of content. With so much love and care poured into them, the cast and crew will definitely have stories to share – or easter eggs which even the most ardent of fans might have missed. By reviving this ‘lost art’, streaming platforms can help keep fans engaged long after the credits roll.

To find out how Trinity McQueen can help you learn more about your audience, get in touch.