Netflix

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Netflix

Netflix is an American over-the-top content platform streaming service and production company headquartered in Los Gatos, California. Netflix was founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California. The company's primary business is a subscription-based streaming service offering online streaming from a library of films and television series, including those produced in-house.[1]

Netflix is available worldwide except in mainland China (due to local restrictions), Syria, North Korea, and Crimea (due to US sanctions). It was reported in 2020 that Netflix's operating income is $1.2 billion. The company has offices in England, France, Brazil, the Netherlands, India, Japan, and South Korea. Netflix is a member of the Motion Picture Association (MPA), producing and distributing content from countries all over the globe.[2]

Supports to Black Lives Matter

Netflix has forever changed the media landscape, disrupting on how we traditionally consume television and film with their original content. With their original content lineup comes along original storytellers. It has allowed creators like Ava Duvernay, Michael Cole, Mati Diop, and many others to bring stories to life and to educate and entertain the masses. For the longest time Hollywood has failed both behind the scenes and in front of the camera, not lending the way for creative expeditions to occur, and most importantly not pushing for proper representation.

The aftermath of George Floyd’s murder prompted Netflix to dedicate their entire hompage hightlighting the Black Lives Matter collection of 56 shows, film, and documentaries, including Ms. DuVernay’s mini-series on the false convictions of the Central Park Five, “When They See Us” and her documentary on systemic racism and mass incarceration, “13th.”

Netflix recognizes the power of storytelling, and that such work educates their audiences. They also donated $5 million to organizations dedicated to creating opportunities for Black creators, Black youth and Black-owned businesses, including Ghetto Film School, Black Public Media and Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp. Additional funding from Reed Hastings the co-founder of Netflix donated $120 million to HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). Supporting institutions that have historically provided educational equity where we are still in a time that educational disparity continues.[3]

Netflix is no stranger to content about racial injustice. In 2019, Netflix produced When They See Us, a confronting TV miniseries about a 1989 assault case in New York City where five African-American boys were wrongfully charged over a violent assault. Their convictions were vacated in 2002 and reached a legal settlement with the City in 2014.[4]

References

  1. Pogue, David. A Stream of Movies, Sort of Free. January 25, 2007. nytimes.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  2. Netflix. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  3. Uvieghara, Nicole. 12 Examples of Brands Supporting #BlackLivesMatter. July 17, 2020. taboola.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  4. Kering and Microsoft among brands showing support for Black Lives Matter. June 5, 2020. theceomagazine.com. Retrieved Feb 1, 2021.