Netflix bosses aim to lure in more children after buying the rights to classics

Netflix bosses aim to lure in more children after buying the rights to classics by Roald Dahl and Chronicles of Narnia author CS Lewis

  • Move will see the streaming platform strengthen grip on the film and television  
  • The firm has the rights to make animated films of almost every Dahl book 
  • Streaming platform is also preparing to launch animated film by the co-creator of Despicable Me 

After winning over adult viewers with blockbuster shows such as The Crown and House of Cards, Netflix is now targeting a new audience – children.

The American TV-streaming giant has bought up the rights to British classics by Roald Dahl and Chronicles of Narnia author CS Lewis to bring them to the small screen.

The new shows are not the first children’s programmes offered by Netflix. 

American TV-streaming giant has bought the rights to British classics by Roald Dahl and Chronicles of Narnia author CS Lewis. (Stock image)

But in a move that will see the streaming platform further strengthen its grip on the film and television industry, it has now started commissioning new children’s content, instead of buying up the rights to existing series such as Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig.

It is also preparing to launch an animated film by the co-creator of Despicable Me and has turned the streets of Norwich into a winter wonderland for a new ‘family musical’ due to be released later this year.

Melissa Cobb, Netflix’s kids and family content chief, said: ‘It’s really the viewership that drives us to continue to invest in the space. 

The move, which will see the organisation strengthen its grip on the film and television industry, will also see it launch an animated film by the co-creator of Despicable Me

The move, which will see the organisation strengthen its grip on the film and television industry, will also see it launch an animated film by the co-creator of Despicable Me

‘We see about 60 per cent of our audience every month watches some kids and family content. And when we think about that audience, we really want to make sure they have a great selection of content to choose.’

Netflix only started commissioning programmes in 2012, but has quickly grown into a global behemoth with a cheque book far bigger than the likes of the BBC.

It spent £100million per series on The Crown and around £9.4billion on all TV shows last year. It is not clear how much will be poured into the children’s shows.

The streaming firm, which is worth more than £1.2billion, has the rights to make animated films of almost every Dahl book, including Matilda and The Twits, as well as all seven of the Narnia novels.

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk