Amy Love

Opinion Editor

aml7458@psu.edu

On September 22, streaming platform Netflix bought the rights to the entire collection of Roald Dahl. This gives Netflix the opportunity to work with classic children’s stories, such as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Matilda” and “James and the Giant Peach,” just to name a few. The company paid about $686 million to acquire these rights.

This a hefty amount Netflix has paid, being one of their biggest acquisitions. In a post recording their earnings in July, Netflix has reported to be seeing a sluggish subscriber growth rate. Although Netflix, as of right now, is the biggest streaming platform, they have begun to have competitors, such as Disney +, Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max. These competing companies are quickly growing in subscriber count and have recently made big purchases to expand their own content, causing Netflix to keep up with the other companies. 

In a conjoined statement from CO-CEO of Netflix Ted Sarandos and managing director of Roald Dahl Story Company, Luke Kelley, stated the following: “As we bring these timeless tales to to more audiences in new formats, we’re committed to maintaining their unique spirit and their universal themes of surprise and kindness, while also sprinkling some fresh magic into the mix.” 

Netflix has previously announced some of their works that are in the current process of being made, such as a series based on the world in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” directed by well-known director Taika Waititi, as well as a working alongside Sony to create an adaptation of “Matilda” as a musical. This was all part of a deal Netflix had made with Roald Dahl Story Company, or RDSC, three years ago. 

While Netflix is expanding their collection of entertainment options to its subscribers, RDSC managing director also sees benefits for his company. In a message to his staff, Kelly stated: “Our mission at the Roald Dahl Story Company is to share the stories’ messages of hope and of the power and the possibility of young people. We believe being part of a larger company will give us the additional support to continue in that mission. Netflix has agreed to acquire RDSC in a transaction that will build on the success that we have achieved in recent years.” Kelly also believes that “with Netflix’s support we will be able to reach even more young people and families around the world.” 

RDSC is making a hefty amount of money from this deal, and Kelly has stated that a significant part of proceeds will go towards charities that focus on children’s health, anti-hate, and anti-racism. This is all part of the company’s attempt to make amends from antisemtic comments the author, Roald Dahl, has made. 

Overall, both Netflix and RDSC have big ambitions with this new deal and hope to create a new universe based on Dahl’s works. In the statement from Sarandos and Kelley, they said they wanted to create “a unique universe across animated and live action films and TV, publishing games, immersive experiences…” Both companies want to take this content a step further and share the stories with as many people as possible in various ways to keep the stories alive.