The critics may not think much of it, but Netflix’s big-budget epic series “Marco Polo” is a hit with viewers — at least according to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.
The historical drama is “a massive success,” Hastings told The Huffington Post in an interview this week. “It’s been super popular with the audience,” he said. “It’s epic-scale — beautiful costumes, naked kung fu.”
But unless you work at Netflix, it’s more or less impossible to know how many people are actually hooked on that naked kung fu.
–
High-quality exclusive and original programming is crucial to the success of Netflix, particularly as the options for streaming video continue to proliferate. Netflix is no longer the only game in town — Amazon’s streaming video service is improving, and both HBO and Showtime have said they’ll launch standalone streaming services this year.
And as soon as people find Netflix doesn’t have what they want to watch, or they conclude their money is better spent on a competitor, the company risks losing them.
