Netflix plans to invest more than $ 19 billion in the production of films and original series in 2021. This is the first time that the streaming leader has spent such a colossal amount of money developing content. Year after year, Netflix is ​​also increasing the budget allocated to its original productions.
According to data collected by Bankr, a Dutch investment bank, Netflix aims to spend $ 19.3 billion on the production of original content next year. Every year, Netflix increases the amount of money used to produce movies or series. For comparison, the streaming giant has invested “only” $ 17.3 billion in 2020, or 10% less. In 2005, Netflix had only injected $ 4.9 billion into original programs.
Original series and films have always been Netflix’s growth engine. The VOD service largely owes its popularity to the success of series such as Stranger Things, Daredevil, The Witcher and more recently The Queen’s Gambit. In 2018, David Wells, the financial director of the VOD platform, explained that “Original content works and stimulates our growth”.
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Netflix original series and films, a major advantage against Disney +
As announced several times over the years, Netflix wants 50% of its catalog is reserved for original films, series and documentaries. This strategy has so far borne fruit. Netflix has 195.5 million subscribers worldwide. The service reportedly passed the 200 million mark recently.
Importantly, this approach allows the streaming service to fight against competition from Disney + or Amazon Prime Video. These two competing services suffer from the small quantity of original productions. Unfortunately, Netflix’s spendthrift madness has also contributed to its debt. The US service accumulated negative cash flow of $ 14.4 billion in 2019.
Part of the 19 billion released by Netflix for the year 2021 will be devoted to the production of content mainly dedicated to the Asian market. Among the new series that will sweep over the platform next year, we find Vikings: Valhalla, Lupine with Omar Sy, Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness or even Midnight Mass. Is this enough to stand up to Disney +, which already has 86 million subscribers worldwide a year after its launch? We await your opinion in the comments.
Source: Bankr
