Netflix to open $900M facility at former Fort Monmouth Army base in New Jersey | Hacker News Reader

Netflix to open $900M facility at former Fort Monmouth Army base in New Jersey

foxbusiness.com

81 pointswalterbell21 comments

For perspective, Netflix spent $18 billion on content production in 2022 and $17 billion the year prior. [0]

Looks like Netflix's largest production location is 300 acres in New Mexico (slightly larger than this new location).

Interesting that they chose the tristate area which, in general, tends to be more expensive than places like New Mexico (construction, wages, cost of living, etc).

[0] https://www.statista.com/statistics/964789/netflix-content-s...

Probably a lot cheaper to transport film talent and equipment to NJ than New Mexico.

So much money and energy spent for a lot of junk content

Presumably there is stronger talent in NJ given the existing tv productions in the state. It’s not all a race to the bottom, particularly in industries with outsider winners.

This seems like a fairly obvious move, reduce production cost through vertical integration. Hopefully it translates to better content, and opening up to new talent. Only a few years ago Netflix was notorious for being the place where new talent could get a production made, but increasingly they have moved to just churning out content made by their established partners.

I wander how long it will be until they open a theme park, "Netflix World"...

I think this is roughly where the lot is: https://maps.app.goo.gl/E8dzQLPwGH7MdesU8?g_st=ic

The old base extends nearly 2 miles from that point to the right, plenty of space for a theme park...

I'm not so sure vertical integration will lead to better content . A lot of their shows have a distinct "Netflix" look and feel to them, from the writing to the production. I see it just getting more homogenized.

They’re also somewhat successful at keeping people paying around the world.

It’s not about creating masterpieces. It’s about maintaining consistent production pipelines at scale. This is really a return to the 30’s 40’s style Hollywood studio system.

Also makes sense to be making investments like this when selling advertisers on that new ad streaming tier. You want to send a message that you will be reliable in the long term.

I can't wait for all the exciting mediocrity and over priced food that netflix world will offer. the comedians in cars getting coffee roller coaster is gonna be intense

Swords to plowshares? I used to work there as a contractor a long time ago. Another place I worked at, the Naval Air Development Center in Pennsylvania, was also closed. The human centrifuge became a disco. Both military bases are now devoted to entertainment.

https://rentthefuge.com/

I wonder if/how they’ll attract people to live there: Monmouth is very close to NYC (under 20 miles from lower Manhattan by boat), but the only transit is NJT. I’m not sure if there’s ever been plans to add ferry service to the area.

Either way, seems like a good use of an old base!

I'd be somewhat surprised if Netflix didn't establish a private shuttle from the Highlands Ferry to Fort Monmouth.

It's a smart move. Lots of tech talent has moved to that area during COVID.

Primary source: https://about.netflix.com/en/news/governor-murphy-and-netfli...

This is right next to the wife’s hometown. People are very excited. The nearby Monmouth Racetrack has been in decline for a long time, and it has impacted local tax revenue. Only getting worse with online sports betting.

Already there is a brewery and some other restaurants going in on the base. The base is huge - this is just a small portion of the development happening.

I used to work at this location when it was an active military base. The Army Signal corps made movies there long before Netflix. As a local resident its nice to see some reinvestment in the base a full 12~ years since BRAC was finalized and the gates closed for good. It’s a beautiful campus with proximity to the ocean and NYC. I do wonder what lies beneath that soil though…

https://tworivertimes.com/move-over-netflix-the-army-signal-...

I can't wait until the jobs are posted up. I wouldn't mind the corporate climate for a couple years.

Right next door to InfoAge Science Center at the old Camp Evans Army signal corps lab and radio installation!

Most people have no idea this exists or any of the historic events and scientific achievements that happened at these locations or in the near by area such as the Horn Antenna or Radio Astronomy at the old Bell Labs site in Holmdel.

I know :/ If I had more free time and energy, I'd spend a bit of it on trying to promote the entire site. It's a really cool little operation that'd benefit hugely from more exposure.

What’s the environmental status of the base? I’d bet it would qualify as a superfund site and am curious to know what type of testing has been done by Netflix and parties involved in the sale

Before everything was picked up and moved to California, New Jersey was the original home of the movie making industry in the US.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com