Netflix hunts permanent UK production studio
Netflix is on the hunt for a permanent production space in the UK, according to reports.
The Crown, a Netflix production
The Guardian cited anonymous sources in the film industry as saying that Netflix has identified the UK “as a target location for a long lease” on a studio.
Netflix said it plans to spend a portion of its $8bn (£6.1bn) production budget in producing films, TV shows and other content in Britain. By the end of 2018 it will have completed some 40 productions in the UK.
According to data released by the IPA this week (12 September), the number of adults watching Netflix each week is up to 29% from 20% last year, while the number of 15-34-year-olds has grown from 39% last year to 54% for 2018. It is now the sixth most watched channel for adults, behind BBC One, ITV/STV, Channel 4, BBC Two, and Channel 5.
But for 15-34-year-olds, it has become the second most viewed after BBC One.
However, the hunt for suitable space to fuel its content pipeline in the UK has been challenging. It said that it has been “limited by the lack of available space” so far, with demand for large-scale production space massively outweighing the supply.
Earlier this year, Netflix set up its first European production hub, in Madrid to support the creation of 20 original productions this year in Spain.
Combined, Netflix and its nearest rival Amazon are estimated to have spent about £150m on creating content within UK last year, according to the TV producers association Pact.
The streaming service is currently hunting a number of roles in the UK, including a “nerd” to work within its technology division and a finance manager to oversee its original content production.