Mattias Frey discusses Netflix’s move into cinema in Wired

Movie Theater with empty seats and projector / High contrast image

Mattias Frey, Professor of Film, Media and Culture, and the Head of Film and Media, was interviewed by Wired UK on Sunday 1 December 2019

Wired covers contemporary science, technology and culture. It is the sister site of the UK-based bimonthly magazine of the same name.

The article, by Alex Lee, asks ‘Why is Netflix Buying Cinemas?’ and explores why the online streaming company has bought the historic New York arthouse Paris Theatre cinema as a home to premier new releases; the company is negotiating to buy another cinema in LA.

Netflix has hitherto been an online presence, and this recent development has prompted speculation that the company will be moving into the cinema industry.

‘The reason why I say there’s a possibility is precisely because Netflix – even though it seems like this big giant – is actually a minnow when you compare it to Disney or Amazon,’ explains Mattias in the article. ‘Netflix could be testing the waters to indeed buy up a cinema chain to try and become a really big player. I think that’s less probable, but it is possible.’

To read the full article, please see Wired’s page here:
www.wired.co.uk/article/netflix-buying-cinemas