Netflix to double its output of original content in 2016

JUST when you thought you had exhausted your “must-watch” list, binge-watching is about to get a whole lot better in the new year.

Taylor Schilling is Piper in Orange Is The New Black. Foxtel. Season 2

BINGE-watchers rejoice!

Our on-demand viewing choices are set to improve considerably next year with Netflix announcing it will double its output of original content.

Not only that but the video-streaming company already has 10 feature films in the pipeline along with 30 children’s shows and around a dozen feature documentaries.

Producing original content has proved a winner for the world’s largest steaming service, which received 34 nominations at this year’s Emmys for its drama series House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and drama series Bloodline. (Actress Uzo Abuda took home the prize for best supporting actress in a drama series for her role in OITNB).

There has also been an Oscar nom for its documentary Virunga, as well as Golden Globe nominations for House of Cards and OITNB.

“We will have about 16 original scripted series this year growing to 31 next year,” chief content officer Ted Sarandos said in a press conference on Monday.

He explained the company would also create 10 stand-up specials and revealed it already had two documentary series in various stages of production.

And while Netflix has ramped up the scale of productions, Mr Sarandos said it would also continue to “maintain the quality and excitement” of its most successful shows.

Kevin Spacey in House Of Cards, the first original Netflix series that catapulted the streaming service into making its own content.

According to Roy Morgan Research, more than 2.6 million Australians have Netflix in their homes, which equates to just over 1 million subscriptions.

Globally, the company has 69 million users, and is in 50 countries.

Sarandos says it plans to be in every country by the end of next year.

But its efforts to produce more of its own content could also be in response to the TV networks rethinking their arrangements.

Netflix has managed to build its brand by running old TV shows that it bought off the networks.

The TV studios are so worried about how streaming services have changed our TV viewing habits that some of the big US studios, such as CBS, announced its shows would only run on its own streaming service, recode.net reported.

Netflix is also cutting back on the deals its signs with major movie studios with the exception of Disney.

This means there will be fewer flicks on the service.

Despite this, there will still be plenty to view on Netflix next year.

In a bid to compete with Netflix’s popularity, Australian streaming services Presto and Stan are also trying to beef up their catalogues to capture more of the market.

Stan, which is a joint venture between the Nine Network and Fairfax, is doubling its investment in local production next year.

And it is already in the midst of filming its highly anticipated new series Wolf Creek in South Australia.

Presto, which is owned by Foxtel and Seven West Media, has obtained the rights to several hit US shows that it will stream exclusively next year such as Fear the Walking Dead, Looking, Silicon Valley and The Leftovers.

It has also secured new seasons of critically acclaimed titles such as Mr Robot, Aquarius, The Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy and Ray Donovan.

— with AFP

The Walking Dead. Picture: Frank Ockenfels/AMC