![Reed Hastings](https://img.etimg.com/thumb/msid-63029424,width-650,height-488,imgsize-68191,resizemode-75/reed-hastings.jpg)
Internet entertainment is simple, but revolutionary, and provides consumers choice and control, freedom and flexibility. The Internet eliminates the frustrations of appointment viewing, intrusive advertisements, and business models that consumers do not care about.
Stories from every country and culture have a platform where the only metric that matters is the love of the audience, and the only limitation, the creator’s imagination.
A sports comedy in Mexico, a crime drama in Italy, and a love story in Mumbai, can entertain and inform, and bridge cultures and people. We have the opportunity for global representation, for artistes from countries all over the world to tell their own stories to people all over the world, breaking stereotypes with humour, depth and truth.
India, with its rich heritage of storytelling and creativity, is remarkably well placed to lead in the era of Internet entertainment. Audiences globally love stories from India, from the epic tale of Baahubali to the underdog victory depicted in Dangal.
With a vibrant entertainment industry spread across the country, India has the vision and talent to export its best storytelling and discover diverse global audiences.
Discover the stories of your interest
It allows incredible talent, from Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Radhika Apte and Saif Ali Khan to Vir Das, Aditi Mittal, Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane, to do what they do best: entertain and delight people in India and around the world.
Free from the constraints of time, form, budget and ratings, the best of Indian creators can tell stories as they intended to, and reach diverse audiences, united in their love for great entertainment.
With the internet, the consumer replaces the advertiser as the most important stakeholder.
This means that independent material that would earlier have a tough time finding a meaningful audience, can be successful. Great visuals, well-written scripts and award-worthy acting are important, but consumers want every type of story — highbrow, lowbrow, funny or scary — for every mood and member of the family.
A shift to Internet entertainment in India can only take place when the ecosystem comes together.
Telcos and ISPs are investing in faster, cheaper, more consistent Internet. Consumer electronics companies are constantly improving the viewing experience.
Consumers today expect consistently enjoyable experiences at home, on their way to work, on the metro and in an airplane.
A robust Internet is key to economic prosperity and a better quality of life. It can unleash the entertainment industry as an economic driver for India. About a million Indians are employed in the Indian media and entertainment industry today. Imagine what that number could be as Indian storytelling becomes a byword for great entertainment and the audience grows around the world.
Unique, yet universal stories surface when we give creators the freedom to express their vision.
Consumers reward us when we treat them with respect and trust their choices. Sacred Games, the first Netflix original series entirely created, produced and shot in India will be launched globally later this year. We have seen how great stories transcend borders and nothing will give me more joy than to see our members in India and around the world love the show.
Reed Hastings is a speaker at the ET GBS to be held on Feb 23-24.