Netflix and The Walt Disney Company announced a new licensing deal which will greatly increase the amount of programming to be streamed by Netflix from ABC and Disney’s cable channels. The deal covers hundreds of episodes from ABC, Disney Channel and – new to Netflix – ABC Family.
Programming will be made available to Nexflix by Disney/ABC no sooner than 15 days after the initial telecast. Netxflix subscribers will then be available to stream episodes via the Internet. The announcement notes that Netflix subscriptions start at $7.99 per month.
The agreement with Netflix was brokered by Disney-ABC Domestic Television.
“TV content streamed from Netflix has proven to be immensely popular with our members. Adding to our existing Disney-ABC lineup with great network and cable shows, and opening up ABC Family for the first time, are important steps in creating a wide and diverse selection of content Netflix members of all ages can watch,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer of Netflix.
Among the highlights, Netflix says members will be able to enjoy:
-Prior season episodes of current ABC hit series “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Desperate Housewives” and, for the first time on Netflix, “Brothers & Sisters,” all of which are among the network’s most successful and popular TV franchises in recent years.
-Every episode of recent ABC favorites “Lost” and “Ugly Betty,” the latter making its streaming debut at Netflix.
-Each season of several hit series from ABC Studios, including “Scrubs” and “Reaper,” which are both new additions to Netflix.
-A host of content from the Disney Channel, including the hits “Phineas and Ferb” and “Good Luck Charlie,” which are also new to Netflix; updated and expanded offerings of “The Suite Life on Deck” and “Wizards of Waverly Place;” and library offerings from the smash hits “Hannah Montana” and “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.”
-A wide range of content from ABC Family, marking the introduction of ABC Family content streaming from Netflix. Included are the hit series “Greek,” “Make It or Break It,” “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and “Melissa & Joey.”
In addition to the hundreds of TV episodes included in the agreement, Disney Channel and ABC Family movies such as “High School Musical,” “High School Musical 2,” “Camp Rock,” and “Beauty & the Briefcase,” as well as new releases “Avalon High,” “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” and “Revenge of the Bridesmaids,” will also be available to watch at Netflix.
Netflix claims more than 16 million members in the United States and Canada, making it the world’s leading Internet subscription service for movies and TV shows.
RBR-TVBR observation: Note to the folks at Google. Have you figured out yet why the TV networks are willing to deal with Netflix, but not Google TV? Netflix understands that quality content isn’t free.
