Netflix has announced a staggering $100 million global relief fund to help support workers in the creative sector amid the spread of coronavirus around the world.
The streaming giant has confirmed that the money will go to support some of the hardest-hit workers on their own productions and around the world.
The pandemic has spread at an alarming rate in recent weeks with New York preparing to go into lockdown this weekend.
Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer, confirmed the fund in a blog post on Friday evening.
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He confirmed that the company are currently “in the process of working out exactly what this means, production by production”.
$15 million dollars of the fund has been ring-fenced for third parties and to provide non-profit emergency relief to out-of-work production crew and actors.
“The COVID-19 crisis is devastating for many industries, including the creative community,” Sarandos said in Friday’s post.
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He added: “The COVID-19 crisis is devastating for many industries, including the creative community.
“Almost all television and film production has now ceased globally — leaving hundreds of thousands of crew and cast without jobs.
“These include electricians, carpenters and drivers, many of whom are paid hourly wages and work on a project-to-project basis.”
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The streaming tycoon added: “This community has supported Netflix through the good times, and we want to help them through these hard times, especially while governments are still figuring out what economic support they will provide.”
Earlier this week Netflix announced the addition of Netflix Party – a way to connect with friends while social distancing.
The feature will allow you to watch the same Netflix shows at the same times as your friends while gossiping in a group chat which runs down the side of the screen.
