TBI Weekly: Netflix expansion lies in local productions

This week, Netflix has revealed the extent of its local production ambitions while showing that it continues to deliver stellar results, most recently reaching 125m subscribers and growing its first quarter revenue by 43% year-on-year.

As the streamer announced its quarterly results on Monday, it quickly became apparent that an expansion of its local language content is a high priority for the company.

Content chief Ted Sarandos noted its expansion of local content as a key part of what Netflix is doing differently this year, compared to previous years, for its success.

The content head was keen to promote the shows that have provided global reach for the platform, noting Brazilian original 3% and Germany’s Dark as particular examples.

Simultaneously, it has been noted that the next quarter will be the first time international subscriptions will surpass those in the US. It came as no surprise then, when further news arrived from a glitzy event in Rome, where the streamer pledged that it is looking to spend $1bn for production in Europe.

Drumming home its plans, Netflix revealed that it is to launch a new football drama by Downtown Abbey’s Julian Fellowes, its first Dutch original and further titles in French, German and Italian.

It seems that when it comes to taking a stake in Netflix’s proposed $8 billion content spend in 2018, the future is hyper-local.

Also in the news…

Mondo TV has made a three-year deal to bring the first two series of Robot Trains to the Middle East on DKids.

Thrill, Asia’s regional horror channel, will exclusively air miniseries True Horror today, alongside the UK

Paramount Channel Spain has picked up the first five seasons of iconic French police series Candice Noir, produced by Boxeur de Lune, Boxeur 7 and commissioned by France 2

Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution is licensing FX programming internationally as a premium portfolio, which sees agreements provide licensees with the exclusive first-run rights to all new series found in the FX portfolio

BBC Studios Documentary Unit is to present the defining story of Margaret Thatcher and of the era when she dominated the political and social landscape in a five-part series for BBC Two

The week’s top TBI stories…

• Disney/Fox deal to close by Spring/Summer 2019
• Netflix to launch new Euro originals including Julian Fellowes drama
• Ex-C4 chief reappears to launch Wonderhood Studios
• Netflix and A+E partner for Sky Vision true crime series
• Netflix reaches 125m subs with revenue surge for Q1