Netflix is in talks to exclusively distribute an original TV series by David Fincher and Kevin Spacey, taking it into uncharted territory that would put it in direct competition with HBO and other premium cable channels.

The DVD rental and video streaming service is trying to get its hands on a remake of the classic U.K. political drama House of Cards, starring Spacey and directed by Fincher (director of The Social Network). The duo have been shopping the series to channels like HBO, Showtime and AMC, but Netflix is committed to two seasons' worth of the show (26 episodes), according to Deadline.com. It's an unusual move; most networks require a pilot to be produced before committing to even one season of a TV show.

The news has since been confirmed by The Wall Street Journal, Reuters and others. It's unclear how much the deal could be worth; Deadline estimates Netflix could dish out $100 million for the show, but most sources say the number is much lower.

The deal, if it closes, would mark the first time Netflix has paid for exclusive distribution rights to a major TV show. With talent like Spacey and Fincher, it's not hard to imagine the House of Cards remake garnering mainstream appeal and attention.

Netflix, the TV Network







The mere fact that Netflix is bidding for an original TV show radically changes the already-shaky dynamic of the entertainment landscape.

Netflix and the studios have a rough relationship; while Netflix provides millions in revenue to the studios, it's also (rightly) perceived as a rising competitor that siphons subscribers from cable TV and reduces DVD sales, especially as more people turn to on-demand video streaming. Time Warner, the owner of HBO, especially dislikes Netflix.

Still, despite the growing discomfort between the media conglomorates and Netflix, the company has never owned content; it has licensed movies and TV shows from others in multi-million dollar deals that the networks and studios could justify.

Now it's clear that Netflix is getting into original content distribution. Netflix has essentially showed its hand; it's evolving from DVD rental service to a full-fledged network, complete with licensed and original content. It's not hard to imagine people choosing Netflix over an HBO subscription, especially if it has a good stable of shows exclusive to its streaming video platform.

Let's be clear: Netflix isn't anywhere close to being competitive to ABC, CBS or the major networks. Its 20 million subscriber base simply doesn't have the reach of Fox or NBC. However, the pay-for-access cable channels had better watch out, because it may only take a few more original shows for Netflix to make them obsolete.