Call it a performance bonus: Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) original series Mozart In The Jungle, which debuted last year and recently walked away with two Golden Globe awards, has been renewed for a third season. Likewise, Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) extended the run for one of its multiple award-winning shows, Orange Is The New Black, renewing the series for three more seasons.
The extension means that Orange Is The New Black will run through a seventh season. Its fourth season is in production now and will premiere on June 17.
Both Amazon and Netflix have managed to shake up the traditional content world a bit, to say the least. Series like Netflix's House of Cards have routinely, it seems, gained top accolades from various awards committees and drawn a solid fan base. But their content power plays have also begun to change the way many studios and networks are doing business. For example, some networks are altering the way they buy shows, with a series' later OTT performance (and potential advertising opportunities) in mind.
Amazon's pilot program is seen as a viable proving ground for new shows; its original series Transparent, another multiple-award-winning show, first trialed with Prime audiences through the initiative, as did Mozart.
"Amazon is proud to have two of the most risky and enthralling comedy series on television today," said Joe Lewis, head of half-hour series for the retail giant's Amazon Studios unit.
Netflix's Orange has been one of its crown jewels of content for a while now, taking home multiple SAG awards this season. "We're proud to continue our long-standing relationships with Netflix and the incredibly talented Jenji Kohan and delighted that one of the most acclaimed shows on television will continue on Netflix for three more seasons," said Lionsgate Television Group Chairman Kevin Beggs.
The top SVOD provider is continuing to invest in its original content strategy, with at least $6 billion earmarked for original series between 2015 and 2018 according to Ampere Analysis, and a stated goal of filling half its library with original content.
For more:
- see this Amazon release
- see this Netflix release
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