In a recent interview, Netflix's co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, said he was highly apprehensive about the consequences of giving the go-ahead to the first groundbreaking series "House of Cards." Original content at the time was dicey for streamers; Sarandos knew failure for the show could mean a firing line from the company.
Following its release in 2013, "House of Cards" went on to become a phenomenal success and set the ground for Netflix's aggressive entry into original content. This political drama series, featuring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, was the first big original series from Netflix and marked the significant conversion of the company from just a DVD rental service to a streaming giant.
Sarandos says the stakes felt incredibly high. He thought that one wrong move with "House of Cards" would end his career at Netflix. Feeding this anxiety was the fact that the show required heavy investment: Netflix paid $100 million for two seasons up front-a huge gamble at the time, especially for a platform that had not established itself as a producer of original content.
These fears did not deter Sarandos, who knew that the future of streaming was great. The eventual success of the series opened the way for other critically successful Netflix originals such as "Stranger Things," "The Crown," and "Bridgerton," which have really placed Netflix in the world of entertainment.
House of Cards" was yet another milestone in television history, as it became one of the first major series to be premiered online. That changed the way audiences consumed content and led to a now common practice: binge-watching series.
Sarandos' musings underline the high pressure and the high stakes of decision-making in today's rapidly changing world of digital entertainment. But fortunately, his initial fears turned out to be just that-fears. "House of Cards" succeeded-it did not just survive; it went on to change the way the world consumed content.
In broader perspective, Sarandos's gamble on "House of Cards" did appear to affirm the keystone values of innovation and risk-taking. It also reminded one that visionary leadership is a requisite in making informed choices in charting the future course for media and entertainment.
As Netflix continues with their quest to add original content to their roster, these experiences from Sarandos remind them that bold decision-making amidst uncertainty can have rewards as payback.
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Author: Emily Collins
