Netflix wants to use $8 Billion for its Original Content Films

Netflix CFO David Wells said in September 2016 he needs half of the platform’s library to be original programming in the future years, with the other 50% being made of licensed TV shows and movies. According to Ville Salminen, who operates streaming news site, as well as Netflix tracking site, that number looks like it may be a dare to reach

“Achieving a 50% mix among original and non-original content won’t be natural for Netflix,” says Salminen. “At least, not in 2018. Currently, Netflix has 432 original and 5,165 non-original releases in the U.S. To relinquish that 50%, the service would have to license/produce 4,733 new originals if a number of non-originals would stay intact.”

Two of the spaces that are getting a big investment for 2018 are movies and anime. Netflix’s chief content officer Ted Sarandos said that the organization plans to release “about 80” films in 2018, as well as 30 new anime series. Netflix has been frequently pushing anime content in its library, from imports like Attack on Titan to original series like Neo Yokio.

If the movement towards anime is likely to target youthful viewers, the investment in movies will see the current services running for a few prestigious awards. The Netflix-composed Meyerowitz Stories and Okja both selected at Cannes this year, but it has yet to bag on par with the Oscar-winning, Amazon Studios-produced Manchester By The Sea.