MIPCOM: Netflix's Canadian strategy? Just follow the money, to kids

By etan vlessing

CANNES - Heritage minister Mélanie Joly in late September surprised the industry by unveiling a $500-million agreement with Netflix to make Canadian content that was light on deal-points, including how much the U.S. streaming giant currently spends north of the border.To understand cash-rich Netflix's Canadian ambitions, just follow the money."They already spend at that level, maybe more," Michael Hirsh, CEO of WOW! Unlimited Media, said of Netflix's $100 million a-year pledge for Canadian content. He should know. Netflix was a major buyer of Hirsh's kids TV content when he helped run DHX Media, and WOW! recently sold Netflix the Konami...