Suits is having a renaissance. Sure, the former network drama was popular enough when it aired to warrant its 9 seasons on USA Network from 2011-2019, but now it's really having a heyday after arriving on Netflix in June. The show has become wildly popular, and has remained in Netflix’s Top 10 throughout the summer, with some clamoring for new episodes of Suits to be produced by the streamer. Despite its increased popularity and new viewership, the writers of the long-running drama are hardly making anything from streaming residuals.
Before streaming took over the world, writers received hefty backpay if a show was successful, which was a primary way television writers were able to maintain a living throughout season breaks, show cancellations and hiatuses. If a show kept running on a network and was popular, creatives would be awarded for it.
