system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How are Netflix originals profitable? Since they're released to everyone paying monthly, there is no way to earn money from them, right?
gpt
Simple. They keep people paying and might encourage new people to sign up and start paying so they can watch them.

It's the same as any content made for a subscription service. Make good content, and people will pay the subscription. Making original shows gives them an advantage over competitors because Netflix is the only place you can legitimately watch them.