Netflix is putting its money where its subscribers are — plowing through the company’s ever-growing content library. In an annual report, Netflix said it will spend a record $3 billion on content rights in 2014, with 10% of that going toward an expanding original library that includes Orange Is the New Black and House of Cards. The second season of House of Cards begins Feb. 14; it was just renewed for a third season, too.
As Netflix continues to fashion itself as the next HBO, it’s also hoping that this boost in spending might make it an att ractive addition to pay TV set-top lineups, rather than just a popular over-the-top option on gaming consoles, smart TVs, retail streaming devices like the Apple TV, Roku platform and the Google Chromecast.
So far, that strategy has only taken hold with a smatt ering of overseas operators such as Virgin Media in the U.K., ONO in Spain and Danish triple-play service operator Waoo! Of that group, Virgin and Ono are offering Netflix on boxes powered by TiVo’s software.
Netflix has said it anticipates rolling out with its first domestic multichannel video- programming distributors this year. If that path is paved by MSOs that work with TiVo, possible candidates include RCN, Suddenlink Communications and Mediacom Communications.
