Netflix partners with SVoD rival Shomi for Canadian original

Netflix and its streaming rival Shomi are joining forces to make Between, which will star Kids TV favourite Jennette McCurdy and was created by Michael McGowan and Resident Evil producer Don Carmody.

Netflix and City TV and Shomi, which are both part of the Rogers group, are partnering on the series. The move surprised some market watchers as Rogers and Netflix are rivals in the pay TV space, with the former one of the country’s largest cable TV operators

Rogers and its cable counterpart Shaw have teamed for upcoming SVoD service Shomi, which was widely seen as their response to Netflix.

Cable net City and Shomi will launch the first six-episode season of the thriller series Between in Canada ahead of Netflix, which will launch it outside of the country on its international services.

Netflix Canada will then make the series available to its subs a year after the Shomi debut.