Netflix takes fight to HBO, plunges $400 million into original shows

Netflix’s original shows are very good but the company still hasn’t produced anything that’s on par with HBO’s Game of Thrones, The Sopranos or The Wire… not yet, at least. Variety reports that Netflix plans to raise $400 million that it will plug into its original shows, which so far have included hit series House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. Netflix will raise the cash by issuing debt, although the company is quick to point out that it still has a very modest debt-to-equity ratio even after it’s issued hundreds of millions of dollars in 10-year senior notes. Variety doesn’t give any information about what kinds of shows Netflix plans to produce with the $400 million earmarked for new content but given that it cost the company $100 million to produce the first season of House of Cards, we imagine that it’s got some pretty spectacular ideas in mind.