Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

In 2017 Netflix’s original content will go off script

Netflix has announced it is adding 20 unscripted TV shows to its original content repertoire in 2017.

The move into reality TV comes as part of the company’s plans to double its annual homemade programming content to a ‘conservative’ estimate of 1,000 hours.

Among the ’unscripted’ shows already announced are the Ultimate Beastmaster, which is produced by Sylvester Stallone.

Related: Netflix offline viewing – How do download your favourite content

“Unscripted television is a very interesting business,” chief content officer Ted Sarandos said at a media conference in New York (via Variety).

The focus is likely to be on programming that will appeal across national borders. For example the Ultimate Beastmaster show will include athletes from six different countries.

“When ‘Beastmaster’ hits in Korea, they’ll never have seen anything like it,” Sarandos confidently added.

Just because Netflix is seeking to add a number of reality TV shows to the line-up doesn’t mean it’ll lose sight of drama in 2017.

With Stranger Things season 2 now in production, the streaming giant is now moving into merchandising arguably its biggest hit.

Sarandos said Netflix is exploring licensed products because of the “huge demand for people who want a T-shirt with Eleven on it,”

Shut up and take our money for action figures, Ted.

Video – Amazon Echo hands-on

Are you pleased to see Netflix move into unscripted content or is there enough reality TV guff on regular telly? Share your thoughts below.

Why trust our journalism?

Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

author icon

Editorial independence

Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

author icon

Professional conduct

We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.

Trusted Reviews Logo

Sign up to our newsletter

Get the best of Trusted Reviews delivered right to your inbox.

This is a test error message with some extra words