Netflix adds 2 million U.S. subscribers
Surge coincides with debut of exclusive series House of Cards
Netflix's decision to feature original programming on its Internet video service appears to be pulling in more customers.
Numbers released Monday showed Netflix Inc. added 2 million U.S. subscribers to its video streaming service during the first three months of the year. Through March, Netflix had 29.2 million U.S. streaming subscribers.
The period was highlighted by the early February debut of House of Cards, a critically acclaimed series made exclusively for Netflix. This quarter includes the debut of more original series — the supernatural drama Hemlock Grove, which arrived on April 19, and the much-anticipated return of the comedy Arrested Development in May.
The subscriber growth helped Netflix bounce back from a loss at the same time last year and generate revenue slightly above analyst projections.
The company eked out a profit of $3 million, or 5 cents per share, in the quarter. That contrasted with a loss of nearly $5 million, or 8 cents per share last year.