Netflix to tailor future original series to suit smartphones

16 Mar 2017

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings at the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Image: GSMA

The small screen has never been shinier for Netflix.

Streaming giant Netflix is planning to grow its audience of mobile streamers by making smartphone-friendly versions of original series.

The company said it is considering distributing mobile-specific cuts of original productions to suit consumers that snack on content on their mobile devices.

This includes shots and angles that are specifically optimised for mobile streaming, indicating that the move will impact how movies and programmes are shot in the future.

Original content strategy pays off for Netflix

The move will also give Netflix an edge when competing with rivals such as YouTube, arming it against emerging threats in the form of Facebook, Snapchat and Apple.

The company is on a roll when it comes to original content and thanks to the success of major shows on the platform, Netflix recently revealed that it plans to invest $6bn in original content in 2017.

Global originals such as Marvel’s Luke CageThe Crown and Black Mirror generated buzz around the world and the company closed its recent financial quarter with the release of supernatural drama The OA.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com