Attempting to attract new customers and deliver new and original content to its existing subscribers, Netflix has today launched its second original series — House of Cards — in all of the countries in which it offers its service, allowing customers to watch as little or as many episodes as they wish.
House of Cards stars Kevin Spacey, who plays a devious US congressman with plans to one day lead his country, and launches as an adaption of an existing BBC miniseries which aired in the nineties. It’s the first original series from David Fincher, who directed The Social Network and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
Netflix launched its first original series — Lillyhammer — in February 2012, making content immediately available to subscribers. However, it also signed deals with the BBC and other TV networks, allowing non-Netflix customers to view the show, albeit a little later.
While Netflix has been able to secure some major distribution deals — most notably Disney — it is unable to match the buying power of some of its more established rivals. By investing in original content, the streaming company is able to provide exclusive content to its customers, and there are no waiting periods. Netflix also profits directly from any distribution deals it signs.
The company has also begun production on a new season of the cult TV series Arrested Development, which will debut in May.
House of Cards is available to stream right now on Netflix, and compromises of 13 episodes. There’s no limit on how many episodes you can view, so you can take your time or view them all over the weekend.
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