Netflix to raise technology, marketing, content spending in 2018

Netflix said it will spend $1.3 billion on technology and development in 2018, up from $1.05 billion in 2017.

The increase comes as Netflix is ramping spending on content, marketing and now the technology that supports its streaming services.

For 2018, Netflix, which runs on Amazon Web Services, plans the following:

• $7.5 billion to $8 billion spent on content;
• $2 billion on marketing, up from $1.3 billion in 2017;
• And $1.3 billion on technology and development.

And why not? Netflix is firing on all cylinders and facing more competition going forward.

Netflix added 8.3 million new subscribers in the fourth quarter compared to 7.1 million a year ago. Netflix's fourth quarter earnings of 41 cents was in line with Wall Street estimates and revenue of $3.29 billion was slightly ahead.

Part of the reason for those gains is that Netflix is taking up more of your time. In 2017, average streaming hours per memberships was up 9 percent from a year ago.

Netflix is targeting operating margins of 10 percent on its membership base.

For 2017, Netflix added 24 million new memberships and its international business turned profitable.