Netflix is reportedly in negotiations to purchase an original television show. By Erica Ho | @ericamho | March 16, 2011 | + Tweet Jin Lee/Bloomberg
Netflix is not just a video-streaming service where you can watch all your shows on-demand: the company is reportedly pursuing the acquisition of possibly its first original TV show. According to web reports, perhaps Kevin Spacey will soon be appearing on screen under a Netflix-owned production.
It's rumored that Netflix is looking to acquire "House of Cards," a remake of the original series produced by David Fincher of *The Social Network*. Kevin Spacey would, of course, star. The entire deal is estimated to be around $100 million.
The TV show will consist of 26 episodes divided over two seasons. It is based on a political thriller novel and BBC miniseries of the same name.
The Wall Street Journal reported that these negotiations are part of a larger, "behind-the-scenes" effort by Netflix to seek original material from Hollywood to attract new subscribers to its customer base. They also confirmed with Spacey's agent that the negotiations are indeed happening.
The New York Times summarized it this way: acquiring exclusive rights to a TV show would effectively make Netflix a network akin to ABC or HBO, emphasizing how disruptive the company has become in the media business.
The size and scope of the potential deal left TV industry leaders stunned, noting that it was extremely unusual to order an entire season of a show — let alone two — without first producing a pilot episode.
Even though Netflix already holds 60 percent of the market, if Netflix does close the deal, it will undoubtedly give Hulu and its competitors something else to think about. (via New York Times)
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