The streaming giant Netflix has flagged a content spend of US$8 billion next year, in a move which will dramatically boost the company's library of "originals".
The move follows some recent tectonic shifting in the streaming market which has seen major brands begin to pull back their content with a view to launching their own platforms in the future.
The most significant example of that is Disney, which has confirmed plans to launch a standalone Disney-branded platform using the content library which is presently available on a number of platforms, notably Netflix.
That decision, by Disney, is expected to be the first in a line of similar moves as major studios evaluate whether it serves them to leave their content on third-party platforms, or to launch their own streaming platforms.
The new announcement also flags that Netflix is proceeding with its plan to populate its platform with at least 50 per cent original content.
Speaking to analysts, Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandos said a large slice of the planned US$8 billion spend would go towards at least 80 new original feature films, and a raft of new television series.
Sarandos said the move meant Netflix would be releasing more movies than Hollywood's three largest movie studios - Disney, Warner Bros and Universal - combined.
Sarandos also said the series would expand its international programming offering; it has recently launched its first Danish drama, The Rain, and a Swedish drama, Quicksand.
One of the most anticipated series this year is Netflix's first German drama, Dark, which launches in December; it is also launching second seasons for its hit titles Stranger Things and The Crown, and a Will Smith feature film, Bright.
