Netflix Canada Won’t ‘Upend’ Local Budgets, Has Greenlighting Power and Still Wants to Partner With Canadian Broadcasters
variety.comManori Ravindran International EditorNetflix Canada is open for business, and they don’t need to wait around for their American colleagues to move forward on green lights.That message was loud and clear at the Banff World Media Festival, where the streaming service has been at the heart of several tense conversations around the country’s rumbling drive to regulate digital platforms.While the three Netflix executives on stage Wednesday didn’t directly address the ongoing regulation drive in the background, what’s abundantly clear is that they’re getting ahead of regulation and pre-emptively moving forward on Canadian originals — before their hand is forced.The panel featured Winnipeg native Tara Woodbury, manager for Canadian series; Danielle Woodrow, director of Canadian series; and Peter Friedlander, head of scripted series for the U.S.
and Canada, who was moderating the session. The latter executive, while discussing “myths and misconceptions” about the streamer in Canada, reiterated to the room — after a bold prompt from Woodbury — that Woodbury and Woodrow have greenlighting power for the service in Canada, and don’t need the ‘okay’ from the U.S.
to move forward on good shows.“The greenlight power sits with Danielle and Tara,” said Friedlander. “I am part of the conversations and support and the energy around supporting the decisions you’ve been working on.
Let’s be clear about that.”Other notable takeaways from the session was the team’s stance on budgets. Woodrow said she’s in negotiations on some projects now that’s bringing up the question of budgets.“We continue to say and believe that the last thing we want to do is come to Canada and upend the market,” said Woodrow. “We really do look global…We want to make.
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