Report: "The Office" could be removed from Netflix

Netflix subscription prices are expected to increase by one to two dollars per month starting in the next billing cycle. (Image courtesy: MGN)

WASHINGTON (SBG) -- "The Office," a comedy show that featured prominent actors like Rainn Wilson and Steve Carell, could be leaving Netflix, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.

The show is owned by NBCUniversal, which has a deal with Netflix allowing viewers to binge watch the entire series until 2021. NBCUniversal is launching their own streaming service next year that is expected to rival Netflix and is considering using "The Office" as their service's main draw to get subscribers. This would leave Netflix and its viewers out of the picture.

Netflix responded to the report in a tweet saying, "Hello it's me with your regularly scheduled reminder that The Office will be on Netflix until 2021 — at least!"

WSJ also says "The Office" is Netflix's most watched series. The show accounted for 3 percent of all U.S. viewing which equals 52 billion minutes.

NBCUniversal has the option of sharing the show with Netflix. WarnerMedia, which is also planning to start a streaming service, recently signed a $100 million deal with Netflix to share "Friends" once WarnerMedia's version of Netflix is up and running.

Netflix currently pays NBCUniversal $100 million for rights to "The Office" but is expected to pay a bigger licensing fee if NBC decides to let the show stay on the service, WSJ reports.

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