And then Marco Polo was kind of a global phenomena as well. So for us, it is very encouraging that what the world really wants is high-quality, big production values, great storytelling and that can be truly universal. It might be that there are some cultural barriers to US content as we get into more exotic markets but my guess is that we are going to continue to see our Original programming travel and carry the Netflix brand around the world.
Richard Greenfield, BTIG
This is a question for Ted because you bring up Marco Polo. I think the impact on the fourth quarter is really important to hone in on. We got a lot of questions mailed into us basically with sentiment of how much of a drag was Marco Polo and the negative reaction on Q4 subscriber metrics. The negative press impact negatively close editions, and the tied to that, as you’ve mentioned also, you got House of Cards Season 3 coming, how much of your guidance for Q1 benefits from Season 3 of House of Cards globally? I think last year, you made a comment that Season 2 had a much bigger impact on 12:02 editions than the prior year. Does that follow through, you think, again for Season 3?
Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)
I think it is tough to get a big subscriber reaction to a new series that people haven’t heard before, even if they get excited about it, they are more curious before they’ve seen the first view. Marco Polo had some negative reactions in the press, viewers have loved it and the volume of viewing has been phenomenal, the rating to which people are completing the show is comparable to other big ten full original shows, so we’re thrilled that we made a show that viewers have loved around the world.
And because it is Season 1, we have not baked in or had big anticipation for a subscriber impact. House of Cards Season 2, Orange is the New Black Season 2, and the rest in development had been the ones — the shows we’ve been able to track real measurable subscriber growth with their launches. And I think as we go forward with Season 3 of House of Cards and Season 3 of Orange is the New Black, Daredevil has a built-in fan base from Marvel, our feature films Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2 has a built-in fan base from the original film, so I think we will see those kind of impacts that we saw from season to season in the past.
Richard Greenfield, Analyst, BTIG
Because part of the fear is that the marketing benefit that came along with Originals, it had good reviews, had a big impact on just building the Netflix brand, and obviously, Marco Polo, maybe it’s getting critical — maybe it is getting good consumer reviews but the critical press or the media, the general entertainment media, doesn’t seem to be excited about it the way they had been about your prior Originals.
Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)
I find it hard to believe that you can sustainably on things that get well-reviewed and not watched. So I am thrilled that this is get watched and loved and I think that is sustainable.
Reed Hastings, CEO, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)
And Rich, we are really focused on the consumer and the social media that comes out of that, so if we look at the commentary from people to their friends about Marco Polo is extremely positive. The spectacle, the costumes, storyline, the exotic but approachable, so it’s a great one. The investor audience tends to be highly educated and that really skews towards House of Cards — well, you’re exception. You’re going to tell me that marketing-to-me kind of thing, well, House of Cards for the investor audience is a tighter match than Marco Polo. But really Marco Polo has been a great success and we renewed it for Season 2.
