The US firm gave Prison Break as an example of one programme it had bought as a consequence of using the strategy. Media companies have traditionally seen copyright infringement as a threat to their business. However, some programme-makers acknowledge there can be benefits.
Netflix's vice president of content acquisition disclosed its use of the technique to Tweakers, a Dutch news site covering the firm's launch in the Netherlands.
"With the purchase of series, we look at what does well on piracy sites," said Kelly Merryman. "Prison Break is exceptionally popular on piracy sites. But there are many programmes that we will not buy, such as The Voice. Such live programmes are better suited for live TV."
Netflix's chief executive, Reed Hastings, had previously told the site that he believed his video-on-demand product might discourage people from using BitTorrent piracy sites because it was easier to use.
However, he admitted that it would not dissuade everyone. "In Canada BitTorrent is down by 50% since Netflix launched three years ago," he said. "But there's still a lot of people who torrent."
Source: BBC News
