Netflix is dangling a carrot in front of non-members’ faces by offering the pilot episode of their brand-new original series House of Cards to everyone – for one month. Non-members (and members, of course) can head here to stream the 56-minute long “Chapter 1.”
“The creative team in front of and behind the camera have delivered a riveting 13-chapter narrative that we’re proud to present to Netflix members today,” said Ted Sarandos , Chief Content Officer, Netflix. “By offering the first episode for free, including to non-members, we are opening up this fascinating world for everyone to see and are confident they’ll want more.”
House of Cards became available on Netflix (all 13 episodes at once) today. It’s helmed by David Fincher and stars Kevin Spacey as a scheming Congressman.
Based on the British miniseries, ruthless and cunning, Congressman Francis Underwood (Oscar® winner Kevin Spacey) and his wife Claire (Robin Wright) stop at nothing to conquer everything. This wicked political drama penetrates the shadowy world of greed, sex, and corruption in modern D.C. Kate Mara (“American Horror Story”) and Corey Stoll (“Midnight in Paris”) costar in the first original series from David Fincher (“The Social Network”) and Beau Willimon (“The Ides of March”).
Apparently, Netflix has made a strong enough pilot episode that they feel it could be useful in roping in subscribers. It’s a smart move, as nothing is more frustrating that loving a show, knowing that you could sit on your couch all day and watch it in its entirety, but not having access. But will users sign up on the strength of House of Cards? That, of course, remains to be seen.
Netflix isn’t the first content provider to try the ol’ hook ’em with the first episode trick. HBO is known for doing a little bit of that themselves.