An unlikely saviour could come to the rescue of cult TV series Sense8 after its surprise cancellation: porn-streaming website xHamster.
The science-fiction TV programme, which was axed in June, had built up a cult following because of its diverse cast and unique storylines. But after being abruptly binned, fans of the show were left feeling disappointed. Fortunately, there’s hope for these forlorn viewers.
In a letter to show creators Lana and Lilly Wachowski, xHamster vice president Alex Hawkins wrote: “xHamster is currently one of the most trafficked websites on the internet. We get more visitors daily than the New York Times, ESPN or the Daily Mail. In short, we have the eyeballs, and the revenue. Unlike with Netflix, you wouldn’t be competing for part of our production budget — it would be yours.”
The move has raised eyebrows across the board. Some believe the letter no more than a shallow publicity stunt. For others the commission could represent the best avenue to return the series to screens.
In the letter Hawkins explains: “ We’re not talking about a parody, or something less than, but an actual revival of the series.”
Tom Harrington of Enders Analysis considers the move complicated: “Although this is likely a PR stunt attempting to exploit the displeasure of fans of the axed show, adult websites have been broadening the scope of their content offering for some time, hosting music videos and reality programmes.”
“This isn’t that surprising, given the alluring but limited use case for their core product,” he continued. “However, there are possibly insurmountable problems for such services hosting drama such as sense8, with mainstream advertisers not wishing to tarnish their image by association, and regulatory bodies uncertain of such content residing alongside pornography.”
It wouldn’t be the first piece of original content on xHamster. The website hosted reality show the Sex Factor in 2015.
Related: Netflix vs Amazon Video
Let us know what you think of this news via Facebook or Twitter.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
