As streaming content grows more competitive, Netflix is branching out in a big way: producing its own original series. It's a bold and risky bet, particularly the $100 million Kevin Spacey vehicle "House of Cards" that went live just after midnight on Friday. In 2011, after a series of missteps -- let's call it "the Qwikster era" -- Netflix (NFLX) grabbed headlines by announcing its foray into original programming. Its splashiest project is "House of Cards," an American reboot of a successful British miniseries. The star-studded lineup and premium production values are widely believed to be costing the company $50 million per 13-episode season. In addition to…