The Netflix cash machine needs the streaming service, launching in 2020.

Disney, which has

already pulled Marvel content from Netflix in the US ahead of
kind of hits that money can’t buy the launch of streaming service Disney+ later this year, now
The Observer also owns 20th Century Fox, which has moved popular
Netflix shows including Family Guy, How I Met Your Mother and It’s
It is worth $166bn and has 150m users. But as it loses the rights to other Always Sunny in Philadelphia to US domestic rival Hulu.
networks’ best shows, it must create its own classics
Netflix will hold on to Friends in some international markets,
Sat 13 Jul 2019 16.00 BST
including the UK, and that is important. Subscribers outside
of the US account for 80% of new sign-ups and 60% of
Netflix’s total user base of 148.8 million subscribers.

Stranger Things is Netflix’s most successful original production.

Netflix is a multibillion-dollar programming machine in dire

need of homemade hits – and it can no longer rely on
Friends for help. Last week, the streaming giant announced it
would be bidding farewell to the popular comedy from its
US service at the end of the year. It was confirmed that
WarnerMedia would now offer Friends exclusively on its rival
service, HBO Max, when it launches in 2020.

Friends is the most watched show on Netflix, but traditional

media companies are no longer willing to supply popular
TV series to Netflix.

By the end of next year, Netflix will also have lost the US
version of The Office, the second most popular show on its
service, to Comcast-owned NBCUniversal’s own global
Its £12bn annual programming budget should be ample turn to stuff they have an affinity with, like Friends and The
enough to fill the gaps left by Friends and The Office. But Office, which is what has made them so important to Netflix.”
some analysts warn that, outside of Stranger Things, the 

popularity statistics for Netflix Originals – its homegrown 

content – is poor.

“There was always going to be an existential moment for

Best of the bunch
Stranger Things
Netflix when it simply couldn’t rely on licensed hits any
The third series of the 1980s-set sci-fi horror has smashed
more,” says Tom Harrington of Enders Analysis. “That is sort
Netflix records, with 40.7 million account holders watching
of now. But other than with Stranger Things and one or two
the show in its first four days after release, making it the
others they’ve not really been able to create their own true hit
most-watched film or series in the streaming service’s history.
shows.”
House of Cards 

The series about a malevolent US president may have lost its
Deep-pocketed Netflix has focused on a model of churning
attraction following sexual assault allegations against star
out a huge amount of content. But it also cancels shows
Kevin Spacey. The first two seasons cost $100m.
almost as fast as it makes them.
Roma
The film that gave Netflix the Hollywood credibility the
Ampere Analytics estimates that Netflix currently has 285
company craved. Alfonso Cuarón’s black-and-white, 70s-set
original TV shows in production around the world, and almost
foreign language drama won the Oscar for best director,
700 of its own series on the service. But its research has also
finally making Netflix a force at the Academy Awards.
shown that Netflix is much more likely to cancel TV shows
The Crown 

after just two or three seasons compared with traditional
The lavish drama costs £8m-£10m an episode and has been
broadcasters. Original streaming shows have an average
a hit with subscribers and critics alike.
lifespan of just two seasons.
Orange is the New Black
Set in a women’s prison, with mostly unknown actors, the
“They have 150 million accounts globally, they can make any
comedy-drama has won bags of awards. The seventh and
show look like a hit,” says Harrington. “What you don’t see is
final season of the series is released this month.
data that shows how quickly viewing of original content drops
BoJack Horseman
within days after they launch it. Shows disappear fast, and a
The bizarre animated comedy led by an alcoholic, washed-
lot of Netflix is populated by largely forgettable shows.
up actor who is an anthropomorphic horse launched in 2014
Subscribers are maybe coming in to watch an original, which
to mixed reviews. Subsequent seasons cemented the show
is probably dropped after its second series, and then they
as a bona fide hit with both viewers and critics.
 Translate these terms into your native language, or better,
The Netflix cash machine needs the explain in English.
kind of hits that money can’t buy 1. average lifespan ………………………………………………………….
Worksheet 2. homegrown content …………………………………………………….

Find the data in the text. 3. franchise movie ………………………………………………………….

1. Netflix currently has ………………………….…… users worldwide. 4. churn out ………………………………………………………………….

2. HBO Max streaming service launches in …………………………… . 5. to bid farewell ……………………………………………………………

3. Disney+ streaming service launches in ………..…………………… . Decide if the following statements are true or false.
1. The majority of the Netflix’s total user base are the US subscribers.
4. Netflix’s yearly budget for making original content is ………….… .
T/F
5. Netflix currently has ……………… original TV shows in production.

2. 80% of the subscribers are from outside of the US.

T/F
Write down the names of the series which Netflix will lose to
its’ rivals - HBO Max, Disney+ and NBC Universal. 3. Netflix is currently creating 700 new original TV series.
HBO Max 
 NBC Universal
Disney+ Hulu T/F
(Warner Media) (Comcast)

Describe the trends in the graph.

The difference in the number of global subscribers in 2012 and 2018.

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

The difference in the number of the US subscribers in 2014 and 2018.

…………………………………………………………………………………

DISCUSSION Which of the original Netflix TV series would you

choose to watch, and why?
 Translate these terms into your native language, or
The Netflix cash machine needs the better, explain in English.
kind of hits that money can’t buy 1. average lifespan the average amount of time of survival of a
Answers given thing
2. homegrown content content produced in the given country
3. franchise movie is a collection of related films in succession that
Find the data in the text.
share the same fictional universe, or are marketed as a series.
1. Netflix currently has 150 million users worldwide. 4. churn out to produce something automatically, without much
thought, and in large amounts: e.g. Hollywood studios have been
2. HBO Max streaming service launches in 2020 . churning out some very bad movies over the past several years.
5. bidding farewell means literally saying goodbye.
3. Disney+ streaming service launches in 2019 (this year) . Decide if the following statements are true or false.
4. Netflix’s yearly budget for making original content is £12bn . 1. The majority of the Netflix’s total user base are the US subscribers.

5. Netflix currently has 285 original TV shows in production.
 T / F (no,60% are from OUTSIDE the US - the majority)

(Qs: What's the difference between movie/film, series/season, franchise etc.) 2. 80% of the subscribers are from outside of the US.
Write down the names of the series which Netflix will lose to T / F (80% of the NEW subscribers, overall 60%)
its’ rivals - HBO Max, Disney+ and NBC Universal.
3. Netflix is currently creating 700 new original TV series.
HBO Max 
 NBC Universal
Disney+ Hulu
(Warner Media) (Comcast)
T / F (285 in production, 700 on the service right now)
Friends Marvel content The Office Family Guy
(franchise movies) Describe the trends in the graph.
HIMYM The difference in the number of global subscribers in 2012 and 2018.
IASI Philadelphia
The number of subscribers rose/increased rapidly/… [other stats
(Qs: Do you know any Marvel films? Do you like them? What other franchises are there? term for an increase] from 30 million to 150 million.
{e.g. Star Wars, Harry Potter} What other streaming services are there? {HBO Go} Is there
are similar thing for music? {Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer,…} How would you describe
YouTube in relation to these services? Can you tell me something about the cult of The difference in the number of the US subscribers in 2014 and 2018.
youtubers and influencers?What would you do if you were in Netflix’s position? Do you
know the laws regarding the rights and licencing in the media world? Does cable TV have (from 40 to 60 million/ “there are 20 million more subscribers”/
a future in the era of streaming services? Are today’s consumers more picky about content count the percentage,… stats)
than before? What's you favourite TV series? TV series v. films, which is better and why?
What does it mean if you “binge on a TV show?” Do you like stand up comedies? What
about late night shows?) DISCUSSION Which of the original Netflix TV series would you
choose to watch, and why?