Studios are easing their reluctance to return old shows to Netflix
When creating their own streaming companies, many entertainment studios have ended lucrative licensing deals with Netflix. But they were too short on money.
For years, entertainment company executives happily licensed classic movies and TV shows to Netflix . Both sides benefited from the spoils: Netflix received popular content like Disney's "Friends" and "Moana," which satisfied its ever-growing subscriber base, and returned tons of money to the companies.
But about five years ago, executives realized they were "selling nuclear weapons technology" to a powerful rival, as Disney's chief executive said , Robert A. Iger. Studios needed those same beloved movies and shows for the streaming services they were building from the ground up, and fueling Netflix's rise was only hurting them. Content faucets were, for the most part, turned off.
Then the harsh realities of streaming began to emerge.
Faced with a significant debt burden and the fact that most streaming services still aren't making money, studios like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have begun to soften their stance on not selling to Netflix. The companies are still holding back their most popular content — films from the Disney-owned Star Wars and Marvel universes and hit original series like HBO's “Game of Thrones” aren't going anywhere — but dozens of other films like "Dune ” and “ Prometheus ” and series like “ Young Sheldon ” are being sent to the streaming giant in exchange for much-needed cash. And Netflix is benefiting once again.
Ted Sarandos, one of Netflix's co-chief executives, said at an investor conference this week latter that "the possibility of obtaining a license has opened up a lot more than in the past", arguing that the studios' previous decision to withhold content was "unnatural".
"They've always built the studios for licensing," he said.
As David Decker, president of content sales for Warner Bros. . Discovery, declared: “Licensing is becoming fashionable again. It never went away, but there is a greater willingness to license again. This generates money and allows content to be viewed and viewed. »
In the coming months, Disney will begin sending a number of shows from its catalog to Netflix, including “This Is Us,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Prison Break” and several editions of the ESPN sports documentary series “30 for 30.” “White Collar,” a Disney-owned show that was once part of the same lineup as “Suits” on USA Network, will also join the service. (Old episodes of “Suits” were one of Netflix's biggest hits this year.) The popular 2000s ABC hit “Lost,” which left Netflix in 2018, is also returning next year. p>
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When creating their own streaming companies, many entertainment studios have ended lucrative licensing deals with Netflix. But they were too short on money.
For years, entertainment company executives happily licensed classic movies and TV shows to Netflix . Both sides benefited from the spoils: Netflix received popular content like Disney's "Friends" and "Moana," which satisfied its ever-growing subscriber base, and returned tons of money to the companies.
But about five years ago, executives realized they were "selling nuclear weapons technology" to a powerful rival, as Disney's chief executive said , Robert A. Iger. Studios needed those same beloved movies and shows for the streaming services they were building from the ground up, and fueling Netflix's rise was only hurting them. Content faucets were, for the most part, turned off.
Then the harsh realities of streaming began to emerge.
Faced with a significant debt burden and the fact that most streaming services still aren't making money, studios like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have begun to soften their stance on not selling to Netflix. The companies are still holding back their most popular content — films from the Disney-owned Star Wars and Marvel universes and hit original series like HBO's “Game of Thrones” aren't going anywhere — but dozens of other films like "Dune ” and “ Prometheus ” and series like “ Young Sheldon ” are being sent to the streaming giant in exchange for much-needed cash. And Netflix is benefiting once again.
Ted Sarandos, one of Netflix's co-chief executives, said at an investor conference this week latter that "the possibility of obtaining a license has opened up a lot more than in the past", arguing that the studios' previous decision to withhold content was "unnatural".
"They've always built the studios for licensing," he said.
As David Decker, president of content sales for Warner Bros. . Discovery, declared: “Licensing is becoming fashionable again. It never went away, but there is a greater willingness to license again. This generates money and allows content to be viewed and viewed. »
In the coming months, Disney will begin sending a number of shows from its catalog to Netflix, including “This Is Us,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Prison Break” and several editions of the ESPN sports documentary series “30 for 30.” “White Collar,” a Disney-owned show that was once part of the same lineup as “Suits” on USA Network, will also join the service. (Old episodes of “Suits” were one of Netflix's biggest hits this year.) The popular 2000s ABC hit “Lost,” which left Netflix in 2018, is also returning next year. p>
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Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.< /p>
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