You have to give props to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. In what seems like the blink of an eye, Hastings managed to completely transform the company from a purveyor of physical DVDs into a streaming service brimming with award-winning original series, not to mention an extensive selection of movies and TV shows.
Netflix’s plan for digital domination is hardly a well-kept secret and the company will be the first to tell you that developing fresh and original content remains its top priority. This drive for original content is why the company had no problem letting its movie deal with Epix expire recently, losing thousands of movies in the process, including hits like The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Transformers: Age of Extinction.
Looking ahead, Netflix has loudly vocalized its plan to double down on original content. All the more intriguing is that the company is looking to expand into completely new genres.
DON’T MISS: 6 box office hits that shamelessly stole footage from other movies
“We need to go beyond the normal spectrum to get quality,” Hastings said while speaking at The New York Times’ DealBook conference earlier today. “I’m hopeful that over time we can make a great Bollywood show, that we can make a great anime show.”
Speaking to the company’s desire to leave no genre untouched, Netflix just last week announced a new show — 13 Reasons Why — that will cater to young adults. Other shows on the horizon include a highly anticipated sketch comedy show from Bob Odenkirk and David Cross called With Bob and David and a teen-oriented drama called Degrasi: Next Class.
When asked about the challenges involved in maintaining a high-bar of quality as the sheer volume of original Netflix programming is poised to explode, Hastings cited the work that went into creating Narcos to highlight the lengths the company will go in order to deliver compelling content.
TechCrunch was on hand at the conference and relays the following:
When asked how Netflix will be able to maintain a high-bar for quality while producing more and more shows, Hastings intimated that the company will spare no expense towards delivering compelling shows.
Hastings pointed to the recent launch of Netflix’s “Narcos” as an example where an American company (Netflix) worked with a French company (Gaumont) to film a show in Bogotá, Colombia — and then distributed that show to a global audience.
Given Netflix’s already impressive track record when it comes to original programming, it’ll be exciting to see what the company has in store for us in the months and years ahead.
