Original Content is King to Netflix's 'World Domination' Strategy

On-demand streaming media giant Netflix has a very simple long-term plan: world domination. If the California company has its way, it will happen by the end of 2016, and it will come by way of original content.  

MarketWatch reports that Netflix is already considering the production of original content instead of licensing properties from studios.

"We've been really growing in our approach to original content," Company CEO Reed Hastings said in a statement. "When you look at studios like Pixar that combine great storytelling and the great technological aspects, that's where we want to be."

According to the article, Netflix's biggest hits, not to mention its slate for the remainder of 2015 consists of content that the company co-produced with other outfits. The critically-acclaimed "House of Cards", for example, is a co-production between Netflix and Media Rights Capital, while the superhero series "Daredevil" is a Marvel Studios property.  

There are several advantages to Netflix making original content instead of co-producing. One is that Netflix will own all the rights to it, and keep production houses from reselling the production once Netflix's ownership expires in a few years. Another - and one that is nearer to the company's plans - is the ability to deliver the content to anywhere that Netflix has a presence.

Netflix definitely has the subscriber numbers and the critical praise to back up their decisions. As of last count, worldwide subscribers to the service totaled 65 million distributed in every country that Netflix has a presence in, with even more poised to join once the service debuts in Japan by September, as well as in European territories like Italy, Portugal, Spain and Iceland afterwards.

Meanwhile, several Netflix shows already have had 34 Emmy nominations across different categories between them. "House of Cards" is competing with "Orange is the New Black" for the Best Drama Category, while "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" is competing for the Best Comedy award. The number of nominations for this year is the highest so far, surpassing the 31 nominations last year and only 14 in 2013.