Ted Sarandos Defends Baby Reindeer and Praises UK's Prestige Television Ted Sarandos, Netflix's co-chief executive, strongly defended Baby Reindeer cr
Ted Sarandos Defends Baby Reindeer and Praises UK’s Prestige Television
Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-chief executive, strongly defended Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd during a speech at the Royal Television Society (RTS) London conference today. Sarandos announced that Netflix has agreed a multi-year first-look deal with Gadd for scripted series.
[Screenshot of Ted Sarandos]
Baby Reindeer’s Success and Lawsuit
Baby Reindeer won four Emmys at the weekend and has been a global hit for Netflix. However, the streamer is facing a lawsuit for $170m from Fiona Harvey, who allegedly inspired the stalker character Martha.
Sarandos emphasized the importance of facilitating storytellers to tell their stories. "This is Richard’s true story… I think he is a brilliant storyteller and told an incredible story… I’m very proud of Richard and proud of the story he told, the way he told it."
UK as a Hub for Film and TV Production
Sarandos praised the UK as a home for producing film and TV series, stating that the streamer’s top four rating shows worldwide from the first six months of 2024 were produced in the UK. The four shows were watched a combined total of 360 million times.
Netflix’s Investment in UK Creative Industries
Sarandos revealed that Netflix has invested $6bn in the UK creative industries since 2020, working with over 30,000 cast and crew. "Today, we have over 100 productions active in the UK," he said, citing examples such as Bridgerton and Thursday Murder Club.
UK’s Success Factors
Sarandos attributed the UK’s creative industry success to its "great public service broadcasting system" and institutions for nurturing a wealth of talent, as well as regulation that supports creativity, investment in arts education, and the UK’s "highly competitive tax incentive."
Netflix’s Film Strategy
Turning to films, Sarandos reinforced Netflix’s strategy of launching its original movies directly on the platform rather than in cinemas. "Right now, a lot of people debate our windowing of movies, that we don’t put them in theatres first before they go to Netflix. What is unique to Netflix is that we have enough scale to do that. We can uniquely spend $200m on a film and have enough scale of viewership to put it directly to Netflix without trying to recover some of the economics in the theatre, which is a fairly inefficient way to do it."
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sarandos emphasized the importance of facilitating storytellers and nurturing creative talent, as well as the UK’s significant contribution to the global entertainment industry.
FAQs
Q: What is Netflix’s strategy for launching original movies?
A: Netflix launches its original movies directly on the platform, skipping traditional theatrical releases.
Q: Why does Netflix prioritize the UK for film and TV production?
A: The UK offers a strong public service broadcasting system, institutions for nurturing talent, and a highly competitive tax incentive, making it an attractive location for Netflix to produce content.
Q: What is the significance of the UK’s creative industry success?
A: The UK’s creative industry has a significant impact on the global entertainment industry, and Netflix is committed to supporting and investing in UK-based talent and productions.
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