Netflix to Produce TV Show

[jlyn]

A very interesting article for those of us wanting to save Seeker.

The SoS team is aware this news and is drafting up our next plan of attack. Stay tuned....

Netflix News

Also, it's worth mentioning, Seeker cost about $1.8M per episode...this show they're looking at spending $4 - 6M per ep. (wow!)

[ForeverRK]

Wow this is really great news..I really Hope
Seeker has a chance

[mina]

Oh, this is exciting! Hopefully Seeker can get a chance if we try hard enough. Hopefully the lure of a much cheaper show will turn Netflix to our favor.

[jlyn]

Another article on Netflix's new venture:

Netflix Vs. HBO Era May Be Here

source


For years, Netflix (NFLX) has compared itself to pay-TV services like HBO — except that Netflix didn't have original programming. That could be changing.

The online video subscription service reportedly is negotiating to distribute an original television series, "House of Cards," directed by David Fincher and starring Kevin Spacey. Deadline.com reported Tuesday that Netflix outbid HBO and AMC to distribute 26 episodes of the show.

Netflix declined to comment. But while analysts nitpicked the details, many say original content is the next logical step for Netflix.
Netflix, led by CEO Reed Hastings, may need original content to maintain its fast growth rates. AP

Netflix, led by CEO Reed Hastings, may need original content to maintain its fast growth rates. AP View Enlarged Image

"I think it's really smart," said Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Securities. Netflix has more than 20 million subscribers and rivals the major pay-TV channels, except in original content. Time Warner's (TWX) HBO has 28 million subscribers, while Showtime and Starz each have about 20 million.

"The next 10 million Netflix customers necessarily have to come from HBO and Showtime," Pachter said. "In order for Netflix to continue to grow ... they're going to have to offer original programming, much like Showtime does with 'Weeds' and HBO with 'Entourage,' 'Boardwalk Empire' and 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.'"

But Netflix will need a portfolio of original content, says Daniel Ernst, an analyst with Hudson Square Research.

"Something like that is never effective as a one-off; it's only effective in scale, unless that one-off happens to be 'The Sopranos,' which is rare," Ernst said.

Netflix is taking action because it sees competition coming in subscription online video, he says. It realizes there's nothing proprietary about being able to stream video, so it needs to distinguish its service.

Long term, getting original content is smart. Short term, it's a cost that will eat into profit, Ernst says.

Today, Netflix offers an unmatched breadth and depth of content thanks to its hybrid service of DVDs-by-mail plus streaming video. But as the company transitions more to streaming, it might need exclusive content to differentiate its service from rivals.

In DVDs, Netflix competes with Coinstar's (CSTR) Redbox automated rental kiosks. In online video, it competes with Amazon.com (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG), Hulu, Microsoft (MSFT) and Rovi (ROVI).

Netflix has been aggressively pursuing video content streaming deals, but mostly for older movies and TV shows. For instance, in February Netflix signed a two-year deal with CBS (CBS) to stream shows from its library, including "Frasier," "Family Ties," "Star Trek" and "Twin Peaks."

"Netflix wants to get big as quickly as possible and fend off the competitive threats that are going to come after its business," said Brett Harriss, an analyst with Gabelli & Co. Offering original content "is one of the ways to do it."


JBC is working out letter writing/contacting campaign. Stay tuned.

In the meantime to all who have Netflix: WATCH SEEKER

[lotslover]

THIS IS A-W-E-S-O-M-E NEWS!!!!!!

Keep up teh letter writing everyone!!! We need to keep up the pressure or they'll think we've given up and WE CAN'T GIVE UP!!!!

There's more than one way to get our Seeker back!

Save our Seeker!!

[deacon]

Mar 18, 2011 9:27:03 GMT -5 lotslover said:

THIS IS A-W-E-S-O-M-E NEWS!!!!!!

Keep up the letter writing everyone!!! We need to keep up the pressure or they'll think we've given up and WE CAN'T GIVE UP!!!!

There's more than one way to get our Seeker back!
Save our Seeker!!

This is great news. Like Lotslove said, we need to keep up the letter writing. We have not had an opportunity like this in awhile. And, since Netflix is in competition with HBO, Starz, etc., it wouldn't hurt to mention some of the fantasy content on those networks: "Game of Thrones" on HBO, and "Camelot" and "Spartacus" on Starz. And, if you have Netflix, rent Seeker, even if you already have it on DVD. This will help to reassure Netflix that there is much interest in more seasons of Seeker.

[jlyn]

okay guys. Netflix tweeted asking what our favorite cancelled show is...remember -- they are delving into the world of TV production so LET THEM KNOW. Don't spam -- but DO TWEET to @netflix that you would love to see Legend of the Seeker return!!

Anybody on Facebook -- please let those folks know as well. Thanks!

[jlyn]

Have you sent your tweet yet?

Also - interesting article on Netflix saving cult hits:

source

Yesterday, I laid out why the new Netflix original content plan could be a game-changer in terms of television content and the ultimate disruption of cable. But it still all depends on if the show(s) they pick end up being hits. It appears that Netflix’s first bet, House of Cards, is just about as good of a bet as you could make — but it’s still no guarantee. Here’s an idea that could be much more of a guarantee: saving cult hits.
Each year, dozens of shows on network and cable television get cancelled. Most of these cancellations are for good reason. But every once in a while the hammer comes down on a show that’s considered to be a cult hit — or one that could turn out to be a real hit, if given more time. The problem, of course, is that these shows often don’t have the massive viewership numbers to sell a large amount of advertising against. But that model doesn’t apply to Netflix.

While shows that are called “cult hits” are often thought of as mainstream flops, the reality is that they still have millions of people who watch them. And the “cult” aspect implies that a large percentage of those viewers are insanely loyal to the show. Again, that doesn’t mean much to the networks where more is better (for advertising), but for Netflix, if they could convert a significant percentage of those loyalists in to paying customers, it works.

The perfect example of how this could work is probably the old Joss Whedon cult hit, Firefly.

Firefly lasted only 11 episodes — not even one full season — in 2002 on Fox. The network cancelled it before all 14 produced episodes were even shown. Why? Low ratings. But in the years following the cancellation, the show has seen new life on SciFi, DVD, and especially the Internet (including Hulu and yes, Netflix).

The cult status got so big, so quickly that Universal decided to make a feature film, Serenity, in an attempt to cash in where Fox could not. Of course, that didn’t work out as well as hoped either. But again, it was the wrong idea.

A Netflix distribution model would be the right idea.

There has been talk for years now of a show revival given the cult status and the fact that Whedon had originally intended the series to run for seven years. But that would still mean dealing with one of the networks once again. Until now. A production company would still need to back and ultimately pay for new episodes, but Netflix could now step in and produce millions of dollars for the first window distribution rights.

It would be pretty attractive to all sides — though it may also involve buying rights back from Fox.

Would the economics ultimately work out? It’s hard to say for sure. Even the House of Cards bet is still very much a bet for Netflix as well. But I do think that a proven cult hit like Firefly would be much less of a gamble (and could likely be secured for cheaper than House of Cards was).

And that’s just one example. Arrested Development. Battlestar Galactica. Twin Peaks. These are all things that could succeed where they failed on television because it’s an entirely different model.

You’ll note that many cult hits are often science fiction shows, which are also often the most DVR’d shows on television. This also plays into the low ratings and advertising woes. But again, DVR does not matter in the Netflix universe.

Firefly averaged about 4.5 million viewers when it was on the air in 2002. Let’s say that Netflix could convert just 500,000 of those to paying customers (who weren’t previously) in order to continue watching the show. That would be a half million people paying at least $8 a month. That’s $4 million a month in revenue. And $48 million a year. And you can assume most would end up as multi-year subscribers.

I smell a comeback. Or several.

[Khei]

*The Browncoat within Dies*

Doth my eyes deceive me? Netflix may actually be looking at reviving FIREFLY?!

BE STILL MY BEATING HEART!

If they're willing to even THINK about trying to pry the rights from FOX's greedy, gross, and corpsified hands I would say that bodes EXTREMELY well for Seeker!

*Runs off to post this article on Twitter and such for my fellow Browncoats*

[Extremis]

**Netflix added to the JBC**

Please also include Netflix in your JBC letters as they are now planning on producing original shows.
(

)


Ted Sarandos [Chief Content Officer]
Netflix Inc.
345 N Maple Drive,
# 300
Beverly Hills, CA
90210-5183
USA

Reed Hastings [Founder, Chairman and CEO]
Netflix Inc.
100 Winchester Circle
Los Gatos, CA
95032-1815
USA

More JBC contacts:
kahlanrichardlots.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=gotopost&board=s3&thread=3465&post=78735

_______________


Posted by aci01:

"People who found LotS on Netflix and watched it on there, should mention it in their letters. Actually emphasize it as much as you can.
I think a huge part of the fandom discovered the show through Netflix, and Netflix needs to knows that."

____________________



Netflix was also a sponsor when the 'Bound' episode aired
kahlanrichardlots.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=s3&action=display&thread=3128

(I've been trying to find an email address for Netflix Canada, to request that they add both seasons of LOTS to their instant streaming and selection menu - when I search their menu, LOTS is listed, but says 'not available' )
ca.netflix.com/Search?v1=Legend+of+the+Seeker


Perhaps Seekers with Netflix Canada memberships can put that request in??


I did find their twitter account, and tweeted them:
twitter.com/netflix_ca

And here's their FB Page:
www.facebook.com/netflixcanada

Also, the Netflix.com FB Page:
www.facebook.com/netflix?sk=wall


XXXXX

[Extremis]

>From SaveOurSeeker.com:

"Another LotS opportunity with Netflix asking:
" #idontunderstandwhy the show _______ was cancelled.... "

Please tweet to @netflix politely (no spam):
" #idontunderstandwhy the show Legend of the Seeker was cancelled."

(Feel free to add a personal message along with your tweet. Thanks )

twitter.com//SaveOurSeeker/status/53088576866500608

XXXXX

[Extremis]

More Netflix tweets for Seekers to reply to ;D


1. " #iwouldtrade _____ for new episodes of the cancelled/concluded TV show ______."

--Fill in the blanks and tweet it to them here:

2. " #ifitwasuptome, we’d only work four days a week and get the fifth day off to watch the TV show ______ all day."

--Fill in the blank and tweet it to them here:

XXXXX

-----------------------------------------

Netflix in Talks to Bring Back Jericho
More nuts, anyone?
by Eric Goldman MAY 1, 2012

Could Jericho once more rise from the ashes?
The CBS series, about the residents of a town surviving in a post-apocalyptic world, could potentially return with new episodes, says TV Guide Magazine.

New episodes of Jericho would not air on CBS, but be available via Netflix, who TV Guide Magazine reveals are the ones who initiated conversations with CBS TV Studios about reviving the series. Netflix have plans to bring back Arrested Development and were recently in talks (which fell through) to save Terra Nova, along with conversations with Disney about potentially continuing The River – the status of which is currently unknown.


This all comes about as Netflix moves aggressively into original programming, including the new episodes of Arrested and the upcoming David Fincher-produced House of Cards. TV Guide Magazine says Jericho is of interest to Netflix because of the continued popularity of the show's 29 episodes among their subscribers.


The difficult part would be re-assembling the show's original producers and cast, many of whom are currently on other projects. Still, Jericho defeated the odds once before, getting a second season (after a famous fan campaign that involved sending nuts to CBS) after initially being canceled. Since then, the story of the show has continued on via comic books.

One thing's for sure: If Jericho returns, it should make IGN's own Colin Moriarty a very happy guy.

ca.ign.com/articles/2012/05/01/netflix-in-talks-to-bring-back-jericho