On Tuesday, Deadline.com reported that Netflix had outbid HBO and other television networks to buy "House of Cards," a new one-hour drama series developed by Kevin Spacey and The Social Network auteur David Fincher. If successful, the deal would mark a major first for Netflix: It would own the rights to a show instead of streaming and otherwise distributing programs and movies controlled by others. The deal is also notable for its scope: Netflix surprised observers by reportedly committing $100 million to two seasons (26 episodes). How will the company's bold move alter the television business?
This changes everything: "In one fell swoop, the streaming giant not only picked up a marquee series…but also upended the way television deals are made," says Kyle Buchanan at New York. It's unprecedented for any network, much less a company that has never created an original program, to give such an extended commitment to a new project. This is a "landmark move" that heralds a future where the internet, not television, will be the dominant form of mass entertainment.
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