Netflix to challenge BBC and ITV for prime time Saturday night viewers and plans to spend £6 BILLION on content to entice fans from Strictly and X Factor
NETFLIX will battle it out with BBC and ITV for the Saturday night TV spot as they launch prime-time family shows next year.
The monthly subscription service is investing a whopping £6 billion into developing 1,000 hours of original TV programmes "with a significant focus" on family and kids TV.
The campaign to grab TV viewers starts on January 13 when Netflix launch the eagerly-anticipated A Series of Unfortunate Events series, a new TV adaption of the best-selling children's book.
Star Trek: Discovery will also be launched online within a day of its US premiere, and smash hit cartoon Voltron is set to hit the UK after taking off in the US.
A Netflix spokesperson said: "Netflix believe that the family audience are relatively underserved when it comes to having access to content that they can watch together. That’s why Netflix are spending $6 billion on programming in 2017 and are planning to release more than 1,000 hours of original programming next year alone, with a significant focus on family and kids programs.
"Netflix has changed the way audiences consume TV because the control is in the family’s hands to tune into their favourite shows at whatever time convenient to the family schedule – whether that’s the 8pm slot on a Saturday evening or a lazy Sunday afternoon on the sofa.
"With the launch of brand new Netflix original A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS on January 13th, based on the internationally best-selling series of books by Lemony Snicket and starring Emmy and Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris, Netflix are continuing to expand their original content library by bringing more sophisticated family content to consumers globally."
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Netflix, who have nearly 86 MILLION subscribers, finally launched a download service in a bid to boost figures, allowing viewers to save programmes and watch them later without any internet connection.
The video streaming and DVD site say this service will also people to catch their top programmes and films on planes and when the Wi-Fi signal is poor.
X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing may have ended but BBC and ITV are both upping the ante, launching new prime-time talent shows on the same night.
The Voice is set to kick off on January 7 on ITV after moving from the BBC, who are launching Let It Shine.
Gary Barlow will be head judge in the new talent show which is looking for a cast for the new Take That musical.
It will be hosted by Graham Norton and Mel Giedroyc, and will also be judged by Danii Minogue and Martin Kemp.
Last night also wrapped up this year's series of The Apprentice, with baker Alana Spencer taking the crown.
She launched cake manufacturing business Ridiculously Rich By Alana and won Alan Sugar's £250,000 investment after a gruelling final task against runner-up Courtney Wood.
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