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Netflix, DreamWorks team for originals

Netflix has struck a deal with DreamWorks Animation, giving the US video streamer exclusivity on over 300 hours of original series based on some of the studio’s biggest movie franchises.

Shrek

The pact – described by Netflix as the largest for original first-run content in its history – will see the new shows start to come through in 2014, available in all territories where Netflix operates.

DreamWorks Animation has been busy expanding its activities in television over the past couple of years and the company has been talking up the launch of its own channel.

But, following the studio’s recent acquisition of YouTube net Awesomeness TV and Netflix commissioning it to make Turbo: FAST earlier this year, DreamWorks now seems more focused on the digital space.

It’s a major leap for both firms, with Netflix going from a single original kids’ series to 300 hours. The company struck a new deal with Disney at the tail end of last year but recently allowed an arrangement with Viacom’s Nickelodeon to lapse, with rival Amazon stepping in.

DreamWorks brings with it franchises including Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon. The latter pair has already received the TV spin-off treatment in the form of Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness and Dragons: Riders of Berk.

The new shows will be inspired by other as-yet unspecified characters in DreamWorks back catalogue as well as from upcoming feature films, plus the vast Classic Media library the firm acquired in 2012. That deal brought with it characters including Where’s Waldo?, Noddy, Lassie and The Lone Ranger, among others.

“This deal represents a major expansion of what’s already a phenomenal relationship, allowing us to bring beloved DreamWorks characters to the 40 countries where Netflix operates and setting the stage for us to innovate together as we expand into new markets,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.

“This is an unprecedented commitment to original content in the internet television space,” said DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. “Netflix is a visionary company that continues to redefine the way audiences watch television and it is a thrill to add to their growing momentum.”

The company offered no update on how this would affect its previously floated TV channel plans.

Turbo FAST will be available in all Netflix territories beginning in December – some six months after the Turbo movie premieres on July 17.

Also coming exclusively to Netflix in the US and Latin America next year will be new DreamWorks Animation feature films, beginning with the global hit The Croods, which grossed more than US$575m at the worldwide box office, followed by Turbo and the big screen adaption of Mr Peabody and Sherman, which opens in theaters in March of 2014.

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