Netflix has had success with various original-scripted series, but now the streaming-video service is ramping up its push into a genre dominated by traditional TV outlets: reality shows.
“By year’s end, Netflix’s unscripted output, which includes docusoaps, competition series and talk shows, will be in the double digits. It’s expected to explode from there,” The Hollywood Reporter noted Thursday.
“Netflix is not outspending the competition the way it often does in scripted, it is willing to be competitive with upfront fees,” THR explained, adding that unlike the much more time-consuming and bureaucratic nature of developing a show with cable networks, Netflix gives more running run for producers to execute their vision.
“If you compare Netflix to, say, Scripps [home to Food Network and HGTV], Netflix says, ’We’re flexible; what sorts of deal can we do?’ and Scripps says, ’This is our template, take it or leave it,’ ” David Lyle of PactUS, a trade group for independent TV programming producers, told THR. “The competition should be scared out of their minds. These guys are monsters — they’re coming in to play and play hard.”
• Ken Shepherd can be reached at kshepherd@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.