New investments by Netflix to create original content for China and the rest of the world is a sign that the streaming service is increasingly willing to put its resources where its mouth is.
The move comes as Netflix and other Chinese companies are trying to capitalize on an opportunity to diversify into the lucrative Chinese market where movie sales are expected to reach $4.2 billion by 2020, according to data from research firm IHS.
The company is looking to expand its content offerings, as well as its partnerships with local content creators and local film studios.
The investment will help Netflix expand its global reach.
The streaming service has previously made deals with major Hollywood studios to develop shows and movies for Chinese audiences.
Netflix, which launched in the United States in 2013, has also partnered with local TV stations to produce original programming.
The investments are part of a broader strategy to grow its content portfolio to more than 500 million subscribers globally.
In the first quarter of 2020, Netflix said it had added more than 300 million new subscribers worldwide.
The platform added more U.S. subscribers in the first half of the year than in the entire previous quarter.
In addition to its initial investments, Netflix is also spending money to help the U.K. market become more international, said Andrew Cather, Netflix’s chief content officer.
In addition to Netflix, the company is spending money on partnerships with regional television networks, including the BBC, ITV, and Canal+, and is working on a new Chinese content initiative.