Netflix's "House Of Cards" (Season 6)

[WyldeMan45]

Wow this is one risky move but could pay off hugely for Netflix. So I guess since I don't subscribe I won't be able to see this series. I am curious as to how this will be showcased though. Will the seasons just be released after the fact or will they stream weekly?

Netflix To Enter Original Programming With Mega Deal For David Fincher-Kevin Spacey Series 'House Of Cards'

Video streaming juggernaut Netflix is becoming an original series player. In what is probably the biggest gamble in its 14-year history, I hear Netflix has outbid several major cable networks, including HBO and AMC, for Media Rights Capital's drama series House of Cards, executive produced and directed by David Fincher and exec produced by and starring Kevin Spacey.

Negotiations are still going on, but I hear Netflix landed the drama project by offering a staggering commitment of two seasons, or 26 episodes. Given that the price tag for a high-end drama is in the $4 million-$6 million an episode range and that a launch of a big original series commands tens of millions of dollars for promotion, the deal is believed to be worth more than $100 million.

Ever since Liberty Media chairman John Malone in October drew a comparison between Netfix and HBO, industry experts have speculated whether Netflix would become the next HBO by venturing into originals. HBO, too, established itself as premium cable movie channel before hitting gold with original series that have now become its bread and butter. Netflix, which dominates the movie streaming market at 61%, had said in the past that it was not interested in branching into original programming. Until now.

Given the strong interest in House of Cards from multiple networks, observers had speculated that the project may get an episodic commitment, but a massive two-season order is pretty unheard of these days. Going straight to series itself is a risky proposition as attested by NBC, which recently tried it before reverting to the traditional pilot model. Besides the sandals-and-toga Rome, which was a co-production with the BBC, HBO has piloted all of its projects, including those with A-list talent such as Martin Scorsese/Terence Winter's Boardwalk Empire and Michael Mann/David Milch's Luck starring Dustin Hoffman. AMC went straight to series with The Walking Dead but with a modest six-episode order. Rome and Fox's CGI extravaganza Terra Nova started off with 13-episode orders. Snatching a high-profile project like House of Cards is certain to put Netflix on the map. But by committing to air and market a 26-episode original series, something it has never done before, it will also put the company to the test.

Despite its dominant position in the movie-streaming business, Netflix, which was just upgraded to "buy" by Goldman Sachs, has been feeling the heat from new competition, including Amazon.com, which last month announced it was entering the subscription streaming-media business, and Facebook, which last week announced a deal with Warner Bros. to experiment with streaming the studio's The Dark Knight directly through the social media service. In fact, on the day the Facebook/Warner Bros. deal was announced, Netflix's shares fell 6%.

Netflix has been looking to diversify beyond movies. The day Amazon.com announced its entry into the online video space, Netflix unveiled a $200 million deal with CBS for two years for nonexclusive rights to stream such shows as The Twilight Zone, Star Trek, Family Ties, Twin Peaks, Cheers and Frasier. Adding original series to the portfolio seems like a natural next step.

In August, Netflix shored up its core streaming business with a $1 billion, five-year pact for online streaming rights to movies from Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM. (It also inked a pact with Relativity Media, while renewal talks with early movie partner Starz, which has provided Netflix with access to Sony and Disney titles, are still ongoing.)

[SpaceDog]

Guess this means they won't be saving Stargate : Universe.

(They should save Fringe though )

[robertee]

Season 1 premieres on February 1st:

Netflix Original Series House of Cards - Trailer - HD - YouTube

[SquidPuppet]

I wonder if Netflix will put this on Blu-ray if it does well?

[SquidPuppet]

Great poster...

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I wonder if Netflix will put this on Blu-ray if it does well?

That would be awesome since I stopped paying for their streaming when they split the plans.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

That would be awesome since I stopped paying for their streaming when they split the plans.

I dont, and wont stream. Maximum PQ and AQ are too important to me.

I see a possible problem though. Netflix is trying to attract streaming subscribers with show, and, ultimately turn their company into a streaming ONLY service. So, while selling and renting discs would be profitable in the short term, it would be undermining their long term goal.

The show has the potential to be fantastic with Spacey as a baddy.

[Moe Szyslak]

I love Spacey and Fincher, but for some reason the trailer's just not doing it for me.

[LucasEatWorld]

Can't believe nobody has been talking about this. The entire first season went up today and I've gotten through two episodes so far. It's great. Spacey is phenomenal and the writing is great. My favorite line so far has to be: "When the tit's that big, everyone gets in line."

[BluraySe7en]

Originally Posted by LucasEatWorld

Can't believe nobody has been talking about this. The entire first season went up today and I've gotten through two episodes so far. It's great. Spacey is phenomenal and the writing is great. My favorite line so far has to be: "When the tit's that big, everyone gets in line."

Agreed people are certainly missing out, I'm a huge fan of the original BBC series this is based on, (I've read the books but the T.V series are better apart from the 3rd one that is) Spacey indeed is mesmerising, Ian Richardson who played the role in the BBC series was incredible especially in those asides to the camera which Kev seems to have made his own.

I can't think of any other American actor that could have taken this on and Fincher has said as much that if they didn't get him then it was a no go on the series. I've signed up for a free months trial and no the picture quality isn't amazing but the program appears to be excellent.

I guess I'll be getting the Blu ray when it arrives, I've pre ordered the BBC trilogy and thoroughly recommend it to those that are enjoying this if they haven't seen it yet. I was a little sceptical when I heard they were doing but when it was announced that Fincher was Exec Producing and directing the first 2 episodes and Spacey was going to be FU my hopes grew and on the evidence of what I've seen, any new show this year as got some competition.

If you like All The Presidents Men then you should lap this up, reminds you all so of Fincher's masterpiece Zodiac and Social Network.

[EricJ]

So, did anybody watch "Lilyhammer", when that became the first Netflix-exclusive series last year?

...Umm, anybody? Don't, y'know, be afraid, just speak right up.

[MifuneFan]

Watched the first ep. of House of Cards last night and thought it was excellent. Looking forward to seeing the rest.

I really think Netflix kind of screwed up by putting them all on there at once. I say this for a few reasons. From a business POV, If they stretched out the release, then that means we wait 13 weeks for the season to be complete, that means at least 3 months of being a subscriber to be able to watch the show (or alternatively signing up 3 months from now). By putting them all out at once, any new subscriber who's only interested in HoC could just do a marathon of them all within a week or less, and then cancel their subscription. By spreading it out, there's a much greater potential for increased revenue from subscribers.

Now, it's flawed from a social perspective too. With typical TV shows, there's a sort of "water cooler" effect where you go to work, school, on forums after an episode has aired and everyone can discuss the same episode equally. No one is missing out on anything because presumably no one woud be ahead of others. By allowing everyone to watch it at their own pace however, you pretty much kill this social aspect. You'll have people like me saying the first ep was great, and someone could be like oh yeah I'm already on ep 9, it's fantastic. It just stops the mutual engagement that typical TV scheduling provided..

I just think the cons outweigh the pros for putting it all up at once. Even from a media POV, they're getting a lot of buzz and hype now because it was just released, but say 3 weeks, or 6 weeks from now, no media outlet will cover it because there's nothing new to discuss or look forward too, it's all there on Day 1. With the lack of a Home Media release, that also eliminates another opportunity to get media buzz, meaning this model leads to fewer media coverage opportunities than typical TV programming. The only other time I see this show getting any buzz down the road is if it's nominated for some Emmys or other major awards show.

I hope they gather some stats or other feedback on this current strategy before Arrested Development hits. That show more than this would provide great social engagement about the previous night's episode, and such.

[chris_sc77]

House of cards is AMAZING. One of the best shows in years. Watched the first 2 shows and i love it. Fincher did an excellent job directing the first 2 episodes. Did fincher direct any others in the season?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by chris_sc77

House of cards is AMAZING. One of the best shows in years. Watched the first 2 shows and i love it. Fincher did an excellent job directing the first 2 episodes. Did fincher direct any others in the season?

Just the first 2.

[supersix4]

love the show... I'm through 10 eps

[Rizor]

I watched the first 3 last night. The first two directed by Fincher were excellent. The 3rd (directed by James Foley) felt a bit more like character development material and the feel and style of the show felt different as well. Of course, perhaps it was silly to think it would continue trying to emulate the feel of a Fincher movie.

Personally, I'm worried Netflix won't put this out on Blu-ray!

[kristoffer]

I am also watching the first episode. Not too impressed with picture quality...I saw banding and compression artifacts. This was on Apple TV2 in 720p. I looked a little better in 1080p on Playstation but contrast was still lacking...

[MifuneFan]

Looked fantastic on my PS3 in HD (or SuperHD possibly since my ISP supports it)

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Looked fantastic on my PS3 in HD (or SuperHD possibly since my ISP supports it)

lol yeah one of the better looking netflix titles out.

[kristoffer]

Ok. I don't have Super HD...yet.