David Farnor | On 23, Jan 2019

Netflix has officially become a member of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

The organisation serves as the voice and advocate of the American motion picture, home video and television industries. Now, Netflix is part of that trade group, becoming the first technology company to join the ranks of Hollywood giants including Disney, Paramount, Sony, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros. and Universal.

“On behalf of the MPAA and its member companies, I am delighted to welcome Netflix as a partner,” says MPAA Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin. “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.”

The MPAA advances the business and art of storytelling, protects our members’ content across all screens, defends the creative and artistic freedoms of storytellers, and supports innovative distribution models that bring an ever expanding array of viewing choices to audiences worldwide.

Netflix’s joining follows a record haul of 15 Oscar nominations for the streaming giant, including its first ever Academy Award nod for Best Picture (for Roma), which highlights both how much the company has shaken up the movie industry and how established and respected its original movie output can be.

It also arrives as Netflix’s disruption of the distribution landscape continues to ruffle feathers, as Hollywood is yet to work out a compromise for talks around potentially shortening the exclusive theatrical window for movies in the USA, in order to release them on digital platforms sooner. MPAA’s recognition of Netflix is unlikely to hold much sway in those talks, but it’s certainly a sign that Hollywood’s newest player is at the table to stay.

“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,” adds Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer. “We look forward to supporting the association team and their important efforts.”

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