Netflix licenses more Warner Bros. content

Mon, 01/14/2013 - 1:55pm
Brian Santo

Netflix has wrangled an agreement for rights to a set of shows from both Turner Broadcasting System and The Warner Bros. Television Group.

It appeared that programmers were freezing out Netflix, even to the point of dealing instead with over-the-top (OTT) rivals such as Amazon.com.

Whatever reluctance there may have been to deal with Netflix began to melt a couple of weeks ago, when Netflix signed a separate licensing agreement with Warner Bros. That agreement covered a set of primetime TV series. The new agreement with Warner Bros. adds several shows, largely including animated series.

"We are thrilled to continue our great relationship with Netflix, giving their subscribers access to more and more of our programming," said Ken Werner, president of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. "This represents another evolutionary step in the TV ecosystem working with Netflix, on the SVOD platform, to improve the consumer experience while being respectful of existing business models."

With its new deals with Turner and Warner Bros., beginning March 30, Netflix will be able to offer its subscribers access to complete previous seasons of programming from Cartoon Network, Warner Bros. Animation and Adult Swim, as well as the TNT serialized drama Dallas (produced by Warner Horizon Television).

Cartoon Network shows include “Adventure Time,” “Ben 10,” “Regular Show” and “Johnny Bravo.” Warner Bros. Animation's “Green Lantern” will become available on Netflix’s "Just for Kids" section.

Adult Swim shows, such as “Robot Chicken,” “Aqua Teen Hunger Force,” Sony Pictures Television's “The Boondocks” and “Children’s Hospital” from WBTVG's Studio 2.0 will also be available.

Netflix will not have access to “Dallas” until January 2014.

"We are delighted that Netflix will become the exclusive over-the-top streaming subscription destination for past seasons of favorite Cartoon Network and Adult Swim titles," said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer of Netflix. "We're also thrilled to be able to offer the latest seasons of Dallas, one of the greatest all-time guilty pleasures."

"The industry has evolved so that TV Everywhere and subscription video-on-demand services can coexist with the appropriate windowing strategy, while allowing for more content flexibility to meet consumer demand in the changing digital landscape," said Deborah Bradley, senior vice president of program acquisitions for Turner Broadcasting.


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