The large information of the day is that Amazon has bought MGM for an eye-watering sum of $8.45 billion after months if not years of hypothesis. As we’re a Netflix-orientated website, we thought we’d dive into what impression, if any, this can have on Netflix. Let’s dig in.
It seems like we’ve needed to do numerous these “what it means for Netflix” posts prior to now few years as media has slowly reworked with extra focus put in with competing with Netflix versus working with Netflix. Most just lately, we talked about what the Paramount+ launch meant for Netflix, NBC’s Peacock meant and even additional again, what the Fox and Disney deal meant too.
So let’s now take a look at what this all means for Netflix. On the competitors stage, it provides Prime Video, which has been competing with Netflix for a very long time, a lot of ammunition each by way of library and IP to mine for future content material. We’ve lengthy advocated that Netflix ought to be getting some extra IP beneath its belt and an acquisition like this achieves simply that.
Under although, we’re going to speak about the way it particularly impacts the Netflix library within the US and internationally.
What it means for Netflix’s Film Library
Whereas some MGM motion pictures do get licensed to Netflix within the US and internationally sometimes, it’s typically as a result of different distributors having a say.
The truth is, Netflix hasn’t had a big MGM film presence since 2015. That’s when it let its EPIX deal lapse which meant that dozens of movies could be departing alongside titles from the likes of Lionsgate too.
All the first window MGM content material has since gone to Hulu and now with Paramount.
This has additionally been the case with a lot of Netflix internationally too though it’s actually on a movie-by-movie foundation. In any case, we suspect we’ll slowly see any MGM content material that’s on Netflix all over the world to slowly trickle off of Netflix for a brand new everlasting house.
Netflix does currently carry a few Bond movies however with Amazon’s buy, we suspect even these will depart (despite the fact that Amazon’s actual energy over the James Bond IP and library remains to be in query).
In fact, it does imply that Netflix will unlikely ever get to bid or have entry to MGM’s library once more.
What it means for Netflix’s MGM TV tasks
A number of tasks from MGM’s tv division are nonetheless on the best way to Netflix and one is obtainable in full.
The one accessible is Messiah which was added to Netflix in January 2020 however sadly canceled after a single season.
The 2 large sequence in improvement for Netflix proper now are Wednesday based on The Addams Family and a by-product to Vikings referred to as Vikings: Valhalla.
Whereas Netflix is unlikely to lose entry to those exhibits as Netflix Originals it does imply that ultimately, these will in all probability revert over to Amazon Prime Video. It additionally means Vikings received’t come to Netflix within the US both.
In fact, this additionally means Netflix received’t get a glance in on any future present both. We’ve lengthy heard rumors of a Stargate reboot sequence in recent times and if that does occur, it’ll nearly actually hit Prime Video first.
So in conclusion, this finally doesn’t change a lot however does add a brand new dynamic to the streaming wars and places stress on Netflix to both make an acquisition of its personal, double down on its output or search for library licenses elsewhere (though the properly is drying up).