Ricky Gervais made "28 times" more money selling his new show than on The Office.
The 51-year-old comedian rose to fame playing David Brent on the UK version of the hit comedy series, which he wrote and then sold to TV networks across the world.
He believes video-on-demand broadcaster Netflix is the future of television and was happy to embrace the "artistic freedom" it offered by selling his new comedy Derek to the content provider.
He told the New York Post: "My new sitcom Derek premieres on Netflix next year. I consider Netflix TV's future. Viewing habits changed. People want everything on demand.
"Its figures are impressive, I have absolute artistic freedom and an artist wants maximum viewers with minimum interference.
