With their Academy award best picture nomination (Roma) still fresh in the news, Netflix has set another record straight by becoming the first streamer to join the fold of Motion Picture Association of America. The unprecedented move was endorsed by Disney, Fox, Paramount, Sony, Universal and Warner Bros.
Welcoming the streaming giant to the club, CEO of MPAA Charles Rivkin said, “On behalf of the MPAA and its member companies, I am delighted to welcome Netflix as a partner. All of our members are committed to pushing the film and television industry forward, in both how we tell stories and how we reach audiences. Adding Netflix will allow us to even more effectively advocate for the global community of creative storytellers and I look forward to seeing what we can all achieve together.”
Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos, also added, “Joining the Motion Picture Association further exemplifies our commitment to ensuring the vibrancy of these creative industries and the many talented people who work in them all over the world. We look forward to supporting the association team and their important efforts.”
Joining the MPAA will further up Netflix chances of raising the company’s profile as a legitimate force in the movie business, although, their newfound membership could bother theater owners, many of whom won’t carry the streamer’s original films since it doesn’t abide by theatrical windows.
Early Tuesday morning, January 22, Netflix landed its first Oscar nomination in the best picture category for the film Roma after previous years of gaining recognition in the best documentary and short film categories.
