Netflix Exec Larry Tanz Critiques Europe’s “One Size Fits All” Rights Policy in Film Industry

Larry Tanz, the Netflix executive overseeing Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, has cautioned against a blanket strategy for managing content rights across Europe. He argued this could disproportionately benefit large production companies supported by substantial financial entities like private equity or sovereign wealth funds.

During his speech at the Enders TMT Leaders Conference, Tanz expressed Netflix’s plans to surpass its record spending in Europe in the upcoming years. However, he highlighted concerns about current regulatory frameworks that could potentially complicate these plans.

It’s understood from sources that Tanz’s comments were directed at recent legislative changes in Germany. These new regulations compel international streaming services to allocate 8-12% of their German-generated revenue to local productions. Furthermore, they prohibit traditional work-for-hire agreements, mandating that streaming platforms give up content rights, a policy also adopted by several other countries.

Tanz criticized these changes, suggesting that a uniform regulatory approach where intellectual property rights are always awarded to local producers could have significant repercussions.

Featured Video

He indicated that the primary beneficiaries of such regulations would be the larger independent companies, often financed by major capital funds, which could disadvantage smaller, truly independent studios.

Tanz also reiterated his opposition to local content quotas, particularly criticizing the stringent conditions in France, which he believes make it increasingly difficult to justify expenditures.

He warned against adhering blindly to outdated models that hinder risk-taking and innovation. Tanz argued that such regulations could force Netflix to invest in content that may not resonate with viewers, rather than funding potentially successful projects.

Reflecting on different international approaches, Tanz praised the UK’s market for its diversity of distribution channels, suggesting this as a model to maintain.

Tanz shared these insights at the Enders Conference, where he spoke after Karl Holmes from Disney+ and before Ryan Condal, the showrunner for House of the Dragon.