'House Of Cards' Returns, But Just How Popular Is It?

Netflix’s Emmy Award winning political drama "House of Cards" returns for a third season this Friday. Many Americans will probably binge watch all 13 episodes this weekend, but it’s impossible to know how many.

That’s because Netflix, just like other streaming services like Amazon Prime and Hulu Plus, does not share viewer numbers with the public.

NPR’s TV critic Eric Deggans tells Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson about how those companies’ business models work differently than traditional network television or cable, and whether it’s a sustainable move, considering how much money streaming services pour into creating original programming.