It’s one of the most daring and iconoclastic shows Channel 4 has aired in the past decade.
Charlie Brooker’s dark satirical drama Black Mirror won the independent channel plaudits and even scooped an Emmy.
It had our attention from the outset with a Royal kidnap situation ended with a fictional British prime minster having sex with a pig on national TV. It continued to enthral us with dark and clever observations about how technology and media are shaping society for the worst.
But now Netflix has taken the show right from under Channel 4’s nose – and they’re not happy about it at all.
It was snapped up by the global streaming giant for a cool $40m and will return to our screens later this year, according to the Guardian.
All new episodes. Coming soon. #BlackMirrorhttps://t.co/Ug5LY66VoY
— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) March 29, 2016
Channel 4’s chief creative Jay Hunt didn’t sound too pleased in a statement about losing out on the new 12-episode series.
“Black Mirror couldn’t be a more Channel 4 show.
“We grew it from a dangerous idea to a brand that resonated globally. Of course it’s disappointing that the first broadcast window in the UK is then sold to the highest bidder, ignoring the risk a publicly owned channel like 4 took backing it.”
Rather than having to wait week-on-week for new episodes of the drama, which gave us a Christmas special starring Jon Hamm watched by 2 million people, they could be available on demand.
Producers Endemol Shine said: “It is unfortunate that having explored every avenue with Channel 4 an agreement was not able to be reached.
“Channel 4 have had the opportunity to recommission since 2013, and passed on this and subsequent co-production options put to them.
“Only following this and the first series’ exceptional performance when aired on Netflix, did Netflix offer a longer order of twelve with an increased budget that allowed producers [Endemol Shine-owned] House of Tomorrow to realise their ambitions for the series.
“Further efforts were made to try to reach a settlement regarding a UK window for Channel 4 but these were also sadly to no avail.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxHqK4lkAtg
