Netflix to stream up to 20 originals

Hastings outlined the VoD service’s plans on an investor call following yesterday’s financial results, in which Netflix announced it had added 1m subscribers, although he admitted that the plan depended on the continued success of its forthcoming shows.

“So in the next two years, [original plans] will modestly increase if it is as widely successful for us as the first three shows have been. We could continue to expand to 20 or north,” said Hastings.

“But that would be dependent on what happens for rest of this year. What we don’t want to do is, on the back of three shows, one of which has only been out for four days, suddenly take our commitments up to that kind of 20 plus level.”

Netflix unveiled Eli Roth’s horror drama Hemlock Grove last week, further to the launch of its first original, House of Cards. It plans to start streaming the new season of Arrested Development in May, followed by female prison drama Orange Is The New Black over the summer.

Netflix development

The company also has a number of projects in development including drug drama Narcos from Gaumont International Television, Sense8 from The Matrix creators Andy and Lana Wachowski and Babylon5 creator Joe Michael Straczynski.

It also has ordered its first original kids series, a reboot of Dreamworks Animation’s film Turbo: F.A.S.T (Fast Action Stunt Team).

Hastings added that he hoped the company’s standing in Hollywood has improved following the launch of House of Cards and Hemlock Grove.

“We are getting more sophisticated in terms of working with producers and the creative community. We’ve [had] a great start… and we will continue to learn as we do more. As we bring great success to the creators then certainly that increases our reputation in the creative community,” he said.

Netflix is expected to launch in additional market, thought to be either Holland or Germany, in the second half of the year.