LOS GATOS, Calif. — Netflix Inc.'s Internet video streaming service will be the only place to watch an upcoming TV series with a high-powered pedigree that includes Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey and the director of an Oscar-nominated film about Facebook.

The deal announced Friday illustrates Netflix's growing clout in Hollywood as its mines revenue from its 20 million subscribers to create new home entertainment options. In this instance, Netflix will be showing a series that won't have a scheduled broadcast time. Episodes could be released in bunches instead of just one per week.

"It's a show people will be able to discover over time," Ted Sarandos, Netflix's chief content officer, said in a Friday interview. "It doesn't have to happen over the first week, first month or even the first year of the show."

Netflix didn't disclose how much it is paying Media Rights Capital, the studio behind "House of Cards." The agreement covers 26 hour-long episodes, an usually large commitment for a series that hasn't even entered production. The series will debut on Netflix late next year.

The high-profile names connected to "House of Cards" made it a hot commodity. Besides featuring Spacey in his first regular role in a TV series, the pilot will be directed by David Fincher, a respected filmmaker nominated for a best-director Oscar for "The Social Network," a movie based on the legal battle pitting Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg against his former friends and classmates at Harvard University.

"House of Cards" is based on a novel about British politics during the 20-year regime of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

This will mark the first time that Netflix owns the exclusive rights to an episodic series, an advantage that has worked well for pay-TV channels such as Time Warner Inc.'s HBO and CBS Inc.'s Showtime. HBO, with an estimated 28 million U.S. subscribers, has steadfastly refused to license critically acclaimed series such as "The Sopranos" and "The Wire" to Netflix's streaming service because of their intensifying rivalry.

In landing the rights to "House of Cards," Netflix demonstrated it has the financial muscle to outbid the more-established pay-TV channels.

"It was probably the most sought after premium series on the market now," Sarandos boasted.

Just in case you missed it, SEASON 3 HAS BEEN RELEASED!!!!

I cannot wait to watch.

Bout to start Season 3!

Me too!

DISCUSSION ON EPISODE 3.01 FOLLOWS. Do not read if you haven't watched and wish to remain unspoiled:

What an unexpected way to come back! Frank visiting his father's grave and peeing on it? YES!

The stuff with Doug was so unexpected, bleak and horrendous (in a good way). I thought for sure he'd be dead. His recovery from his brain injury was very sad to watch, not to mention the obvious psychological torment that he is in. Falling in the bathtub, breaking his arm and fashioning a brace from duct tape and a wooden spoon was classic. And all for Frank to turn him down! It was heartbreaking and creepy to watch him fall off the wagon and ask a prostitute to squirt bourbon in his mouth via a syringe. Damn. Ew.

It was fun seeing Frank desperately try to earn some respect, although I prefer to see him wheeling and dealing instead of discussing payments to retirees and such. Maybe we'll get back to that soon.

There are beginning to be cracks between Frank and Claire! EXCITING but also scary, because watching them plot and scheme and manipulate and use others as a team was one of THE draws of the show. Still, I'll trust that they know what they're doing. Besides, the two can feud and then make up again. Or Frank could just turn to Meechum for more comfort, which is my personal choice.

Finished Season 3 today. The deterioration of Frank and Claire's marriage that started at the beginning of the season finally reaches its boiling point and there were hands grabbing faces and cutting words galore. It was a thrilling finale episode, even though it all doesn't necessarily stand under closer scrutiny. It was an enjoyable season although I feel that a lot of the fun and excitement of the show has gone out now that Frank & Claire achieved their ultimate goal. At this point, you can sort of sense the writers were struggling to come up with plausible drama. Still, "I'm leaving you." It'll be interesting to see how they follow this up.

I would love for them to surprise us and have Frank lose the presidential nomination (or be a candidate and ultimately lose). We need him and Claire back to their scheming, season 1 and 2 ways.

HOUSE OF CARDS has been renewed for Season 5 but the showrunner and creator will not be coming back. Hmmmm. Interesting.

At one point wasn't this show supposed to be over after season 3? I swear I read an article saying the leads didn't want to continue. Does anyone else remember that?

Joel Kinnaman will be a castmember of Season 4   Only greatness can happen, although it might be too much to hope he's Frank's next boo boo

It's finally back!

 

I haven't started watching yet, but I see most episodes are in the low 40 minutes for running time. What's up with that? 

Edited March 4, 20169 yr by YRBB

I just finished it and this season was fantastic!  I thought last season was kind of slow but they sure made up for it this season.  I don't think I was ever bored with an episode.  The Frank/Claire dynamic continues to one of the best duos on television - loved the last scene, the  last words of the season.  LOL 

This season was SO MUCH better than last season. My god these people are monsters. The very last scene is masterful.

OMG.

 

Russian agents behind election interference watched "House of Cards" to understand US politics: report https://t.co/53p3FHt5Vk pic.twitter.com/732yOlPpBb

— The Hill (@thehill) October 16, 2017

Given how many times I've heard people say the show is ludicrously unrealistic, I find that very frightening.

It's official: Kevin Spacey has been thrown out. I wonder if they'll continue with Claire, at least for a season to wrap things up.