MUMBAI: US broadcaster CBS and Warner Bros. Television Group have stitched a licensing agreement with Netflix. This will allow US members of Netflix to instantly watch previous seasons of scripted series that air on The CW from its current schedule through the 2014-15 season.
As part of this four-year output deal, Netflix has licensed the rights to stream more than 700 hours of previous-season episodes of The CW’s young-skewing dramas as well as future programs. These rights extend for four years after each series, current or future, ends its broadcast run on the network. The CW content can also be made available via traditional syndication windows, electronic sell-through services and, on a partial-season basis, through authenticated cable providers.
Programming available to Netflix members will include the eight dramas on The CW’s Fall 2011 schedule, including new series ‘Ringer’, ‘Hart of Dixie’ and ‘The Secret Circle’; returning shows ‘The Vampire Diaries’, ‘Gossip Girl’, ‘90210’, ‘Supernatural’, ‘Nikita’ and mid-season series ‘One Tree Hill’.
Previous seasons of ‘The Vampire Diaries’, ‘Gossip Girl’, ‘One Tree Hill’ and ‘Nikita’ will be available to watch instantly on 15 October, with previous seasons of ‘Supernatural’ and ‘90210’ beginning in January 2012. Episodes of all scripted series airing on The CW this broadcast season will premiere for Netflix members in Fall 2012. In addition, all episodes of future scripted series appearing on The CW through the 2014-15 season will be available to stream from Netflix through a commensurate window.
With this agreement, Netflix members can catch up on prior seasons of the network’s addictive serialised dramas streaming from Netflix as well as watch new episodes on The CW during their in-season broadcast.
CBS president, CEO Leslie Moonves said, “This is a forward-thinking agreement for a network whose programming occupies a unique space in the content marketplace. It is a model that opens a new door for The CW programming to expand its audience reach through the terrific Netflix service, and creates a brand-new window for CBS and Warner Bros. to be paid for the content we supply the network. It also further illustrates how new distribution systems are providing premium content suppliers with additive revenue streams while still preserving traditional monetization windows.”
Warner Bros. chairman, CEO Barry Meyer said, "This proves once again the overriding importance of content in our business, while showing how emerging platforms such as Netflix are adding value to the traditional TV ecosystem. And to open a new window like this for our television product strengthens the increasing value of our powerful, deep and growing portfolio.”
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The CW president Mark Pedowitz said, "This deal works across multiple levels for us. Not only will we be able to recruit new viewers for our shows through the powerful reach of Netflix, but it also makes The CW an even more attractive option to the creative community."
