Netflix profits come from subscribers, plain and simple. The way they make money on a big hit is if it brings in more subscribers. Obviously if something gets a lot of views for them, it's also helping to justify subscriptions and keep people on the hook. Which is also why they cancel shows even if they have a solid loyal fanbase because they feel they've stopped bringing in NEW subscribers. So they figure if, say, people have been subscribed for over 3 years to watch Daredevil, they've likely found other things to watch besides Daredevil in the interim to justify paying monthly for a subscription, and therefore would remain subscribed even if they cancel Daredevil. That's a big difference between the network model and the streaming model. Networks LOVE a dependable steady fanbase, and they expect the numbers for a show to decline after it hits it's peak buzz somewhere in S2-5, but they're cool with that as long as the ratings plateau and can sustain a steady number of loyal viewers that they can guarantee their advertisers. Because advertisers pay by the program. Streaming subscribers don't. With Netflix, they stop caring once a show is no longer bringing buzz/new eyeballs.