WASHINGTON — Netflix is in advanced talks to join the Motion Picture Association of America, a move that would reflect its evolution as a major player in the movie business.
The MPAA currently has six major studios as members, each paying annual dues between $15 million to $20 million per year. But it faces the loss of one of the legacy studio members, Twentieth Century Fox, after the merger of many of its assets with Disney is completed. A source confirmed the talks with Netflix, which were first reported by Politico.
The streaming video giant received its first best picture Oscar nomination on Tuesday for “Roma.”
Netflix would be the first internet company, with its origins in Silicon Valley, to join the MPAA.
With the growth of streaming services and other content businesses, the MPAA has in recent years faced questions of whether it should expand its membership. According to sources, there has been some disagreement among the board members as to whether to take such a step.
While the tech industry has often been at odds with the MPAA on issues like copyright and trade, their sentiments could start to align as Netflix, YouTube, Amazon and Apple make greater investments in content, and as major media companies The Walt Disney Co., WarnerMedia and NBCUniversal prepare to launch their own subscription streaming services.
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As it has expanded production, Netflix has found many of its policy concerns in sync with those of other content firms.
In 2017, Netflix and Amazon joined with studios in the formation of a global anti-piracy coalition, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment. The group has pursued legal action against piracy sites.
It recently left another trade association, the Internet Association, which represents many tech giants like Google, Amazon, Snap and Facebook. Netflix had been a champion for the FCC to pass a robust set of net neutrality rules in 2015, but those were overturned when Republicans gained control of the commission two years later. The MPAA has largely stayed out of the net neutrality debate.