Netflix’s Deep Integration With Facebook Under Way. Netflix Begins Its Assault On Cable Industry, May Spend Big Bucks On Exclusive Original Series* Netflix Makes A Big Bet On Original Content And Wall Street Already Starts To Sour On HBO. Netflix Signs "House Of Cards" Deal For David Fincher Movie. Interview With Content Chief Ted Sarandos | Peter Kafka | MediaMemo | AllThingsD. Netflix has bought its first TV show which doesn’t exist yet. The company has finalized a deal to distribute two seasons of “House Of Cards,” a yet-to-be produced political drama directed by David Fincher, starring Kevin Spacey. That’s a big change for the video rental company, which has previously made its money on movies and tv shows that someone had already shown somewhere else. But Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos doesn’t see it that way.
His argument is that this is just like the company’s deals to buy other shows — just a bit riskier. How much risk, exactly? Sarandos wouldn’t discuss the terms of the deal, though people familiar with the company have already batted down the $100 million-plus figure that Deadline.com threw out when they first reported the story. But Sarandos did say Netflix won’t cover the entire costs of production with its license fees: That’s the responsibility of Media Rights Capital, which will produce and own the show.
Sarandos: They’ll deficit finance it. Netflix Original Content Is Much More Than A Strategy Shift — It Could Shift An Industry. Three years ago, if you had asked people to choose between cable television and Netflix, the vast majority would have laughed at you. A DVD-by-mail service versus thousands of pieces of content always at your fingertips? No one is laughing anymore. Netflix has confirmed that they intend to pay for House of Cards a new show being produced by David Fincher (yes, he of Fight Club, The Social Network, etc) and starring Kevin Spacey (yes, he of The Usual Suspects, American Beauty, etc).
Netflix is not paying for the full production of it, but instead they’re paying for the first-rights access to air it. In other words, they get the first “window” to show it to viewers. And while the company is saying that this isn’t a shift in strategy, it could end up being potentially much more than that. Up until now, Netflix has not had content in this first window. But with House of Cards, the game changes. And if that’s the case, they’ll be doing a lot more of these deals. Netflix to offer Kevin Spacey's "House of Cards" - latimes.com. Netflix is now officially in the original content business. The streaming video and DVD subscription service confirmed earlier reports Friday that it had acquired rights to be the first home for "House of Cards," an hourlong political drama series starring Kevin Spacey.
Netflix has ordered 26 episodes of the program, which will debut on its streaming service in late 2012. Steve Swasey, a spokesman for Netflix, said the company might offer multiple episodes at a time for its 20-million-plus subscribers to watch on demand, rather than premiering one per week as the traditional networks do. That would fit the common viewing patterns of many Netflix users, who watch several episodes of a TV series in one sitting. In the past, Netflix executives have said they were not interested in original production.
The distinction may be a fine one, however, as Netflix could still be out the tens of millions of dollars it is investing in "House of Cards" if the show proves unpopular with consumers. Netflix is getting into the content biz, confirms 'House of Cards' will launch in late 2012. David Fincher's "House of Cards" Starring Kevin Spacey to Be Streamed Instantly in North America Exclusively from Netflix New television series from Media Rights Capital brings the highly anticipated adaptation of the award-winning BBC political thriller to Netflix members in late 2012 Beverly Hills, CA (March 18, 2011) – "House of Cards," the much-anticipated television series and political thriller from Executive Producer David Fincher and starring two time Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey, will debut exclusively in the United States and Canada from Netflix, the world's leading Internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows.
Netflix has committed to a minimum of 26 episodes of the Media Rights Capital drama, which is expected to be available to the more than 20 million Netflix members, beginning in late 2012. "The gripping, serialized one hour drama has become a very important part of the Netflix experience," said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos.