[tomjen3]

That would definitely be awesome, but it also seems very expensive. Hbo cost a lot more than netflix jet their target audience is usually much wider. Finally hbo, in my mind at least is as much a certificate of great tv as it is a channel. This is not the case for netflix.

[bmelton]

That wasn't the case for AMC before "Mad Men". Now, in addition to "Mad Men", they have "The Walking Dead", "Breaking Bad" and "Hell on Wheels". Even more than that, they have my guarantee that I will at least try a few episodes of any AMC original show that comes out.

You're right that Netflix would have to build an audience, but if they are able to create exceptional quality shows, as HBO and AMC have done, then they can very print that certificate very quickly (within a couple of years).