MUMBAI: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and Netflix, Inc have expanded their existing streaming content agreement.
The new agreement adds a slate of catalog TV shows available to watch instantly at Netflix and extends the existing license for catalog movies through 2011.
Most notably, Netflix has acquired streaming rights – for a period of four years – to all 100 episodes of the Golden Globe Award–winning drama series Nip/Tuck. As part of its deal, Netflix has also acquired streaming rights to the series Veronica Mars, Pushing Daisies and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, among others.
"Our Netflix streaming relationship is a good example of the opportunities the digital space provides to make content available in new ways at appropriate points in the product lifecycle. This agreement establishes an additional stop on the economic chain for our library content while providing consumers with more convenience and choice," said Warner Bros. Digital Distribution president Thomas Gewecke.
"Netflix and Warner Bros. have a history of innovation and partnership. This agreement breaks new ground for both of us in the area of subscription, commercial-free streaming of first cycle syndication network and cable TV shows. We are proud to make more movies and TV episodes from Warner Bros. available to Netflix members," said Netflix vice president of content acquisition Robert Kyncl.
"Consumers now have the ability to choose how they enjoy Nip/Tuck, either streamed instantly from Netflix or in a more traditional linear fashion on Logo. Veronica, Daisies and Sarah Connor are all high-quality, critically acclaimed series with passionate fan bases but which have a limited number of episodes, preventing a more traditional syndicated rollout. Netflix can offer the consumer instant access to multiple episodes, creating a viewing experience that is a plus for serialized shows," said Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution president Ken Werner.
Earlier this year, Netflix and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment announced an agreement under which new release titles on DVD and Blu-ray will be made available to Netflix subscribers after a 28-day window. The new agreement does not alter the previous arrangement with regard to the 28-day window for new release titles.
