More Netflix content, including local and regional shows, on the way for Hong Kong viewers
American internet television network looking into expanding limited library by working with city’s filmmakers and licensing more programmes, but does not have confirmed date for launch in mainland China
Netflix has admitted its library for its Hong Kong launch was limited, but said it is looking into producing original content for the region with the city’s filmmakers.
The American internet television network does not have a date yet for a mainland launch as it is still identifying the right local partner.
Jonathan Friedland, chief communications officer at Netflix, said yesterday morning that the content available for Hong Kong was limited for the time being as the network was still fresh in the market, but it will gradually increase the number of programmes in the library.
READ MORE: Netflix Antarctica has more videos than Hong Kong – the pathetic local offerings by the world’s streaming video giant
He said this has been Netflix’s practice whenever it lands in a new market.
Some programmes are not yet available due to territorial licence issues, added Friedland.
He explained that in the case of House of Cards, the series was shown when Netflix was available only in a few markets, such as the US and the UK.
We are working on licensing Hong Kong movies over time. We have a huge number of Hong Kong films in the US and elsewhere, but not in Hong Kong.
The series then was sold to television stations around the world under exclusive territorial licences, he said. Thus when Netflix began to expand, shows like House of Cards were not available on the network in some territories.