Netflix agrees to acquire the Roald Dahl Story Company, expanding on a three-year deal to make animated shows, with plans to create TV, movies, games, and more
Netflix has acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company and will expand their existing deal to create a universe spanning several formats. Source: About Netflix .
The Roald Dahl agreement extends that pattern from animated shows to a single property owner whose works Netflix plans to use across TV, films, games, and other formats. It also fits Netflix's earlier move toward operating more of its own studio pipeline and controlling distribution rights.
First-order effects
Netflix gains control of the Roald Dahl Story Company while expanding its existing animation arrangement into a multi-format development plan.
The Roald Dahl Story Company moves from a deal partner on animated shows to a Netflix-owned source of TV, film, and game projects.
Second-order effects
Netflix can coordinate Dahl-based programming and games under one owner rather than negotiating separate format-by-format arrangements, concentrating franchise decisions inside the service.
The move reinforces Netflix's children-and-family portfolio alongside StoryBots, making owned brands a larger part of how it supplies that audience.
Third-order effects
If Netflix continues pairing acquisitions with multi-format development, streaming competition shifts further toward control of adaptable intellectual property rather than individual show commissions.
Owning both the property source and distribution route gives large streamers greater scope to turn family brands into recurring cross-format franchises, potentially raising the value of rights holders with similar adaptability.
The trend: Netflix is building a more vertically controlled entertainment catalog by acquiring recognizable properties it can deploy across formats.
Excited to announce that the Roald Dahl Story Company (RDSC) and Netflix are joining forces to bring some of the world's most loved stories to current and future fans in creative new ways. “We are now about to visit the most marvellous places and see the most wonderful things.” h…
@jimwaterson
Jim Waterson on x
Netflix have bought the Roald Dahl estate and everything associated with Roald Dahl. Prepare for Dahl-themed everything. https://twitter.com/...
@erinbiba
Erin Biba on x
Oh good @Netflix is has decided to make it's biggest acquisition in company history by purchasing the catalog of Roald Dahl, a violently antisemitic and racist monster. Fun times. https://twitter.com/...
@loudmouthjulia
Julia Alexander on x
Not only is family content + family interactive content crucial to Netflix's continued growth and sustaining current subscribers, but owning the IP instead of licensing it will play into Netflix's greater ambitions — namely gaming. Also, podcasts. It's a big IP to latch onto. htt…
@netflixuk
@netflixuk on x
Projects in the works include an event series from the awe-inspiring vision of Taika Waititi based on the world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and another wholly original take on the Oompa-Loompas.
@bigblackjacobin
Edward Ongweso Jr on x
Come with me and you'll be🎶🎵 In a world of no imagination🎶🎵 Take a look and you'll see🎶🎵 Into your endless rendition🎶🎵 We'll begin with a spin🎶🎵 Travelling in the world of recreation🎶🎵 What we'll see will defy explanation🎶🎵 https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@netflixuk
@netflixuk on x
In addition to projects coming under this new partnership, Netflix and the RDSC have already begun to work on Roald Dahl's timeless stories told through a new lens.
@labuzamovies
Peter Labuza on x
Roald Dahl died over 30 years ago. What is copyright doing to help him as an individual prosper from his work? https://twitter.com/...
@silviakillings
Silvia Killingsworth on x
I wonder if anyone made a Golden Ticket joke in a meeting https://twitter.com/...
@jay_kotakone
Jay Kotak on x
Roald Dahl's books left a wonderful, indelible mark on my childhood. Excited to see Netflix do something with this content. https://twitter.com/...
@nkulw
Noah Kulwin on x
Dahl makes JK Rowling look like Sharansky https://twitter.com/...
@alexritman
Alex Ritman on x
No financial details have been mentioned about this MASSIVE deal, but when Netflix bought the rights to 12 Roald Dahl titles in 2018 it was believed to have been in the nine-figure mark. https://twitter.com/...
@morganjeffery
Morgan Jeffery on x
Can't wait to see Matilda, Willy Wonka, the BFG and Fantastic Mr. Fox team up in Dahl: Endgame. https://twitter.com/...