Netflix has been screening new shows and movies among subscribers before their release

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

According to a report from Variety,Netflix has been showing movies and TV shows to small groups of subscribers in the US. Variety says that subscribers who participate in the feedback panels will watch several upcoming movies and series over the course of about six months. The company takes feedback into account for potential changes ahead of a show's debut.

The company is well-known for testing many of its software features ahead of wider releases, like the Top 10 row and the shuffle feature, so it's not surprising that it's also testing its own. The company has been doing this for a while.

As it tries to weather the effects of its latest earnings report where it reported losing subscribers for the first time in over a decade, the groups could help it zero in on potential hits. There were at least 26 layoffs from April and today there were 150 layoffs. The company is cracking down on password sharing and is going to launch an ad-supported plan.

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