Netflix Acquires Shows From Warner Bros. TV

Series include 'The Following,' 'Revolution,' and '666 Park Avenue'

By Jon Lafayette -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/7/2013 11:31:55 AM

Netflix said it acquired the rights to eight serialized dramas from Warner Bros. TV that have appeared on broadcast and cable networks.

Titles including Fox's much anticipated The Following, NBC's freshman hit Revolution and 666 Park Avenue, cancelled by ABC.

Netflix's rights allow it to stream complete seasons of series after they air on their linear television outlets. Financial terms were not released.

Warner Bros. is the leading producer of TV series for broadcast networks. Netflix already had deals with some broadcast and cable networks for series they produce for themselves. Those deals generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues for the networks.

Also part of the deal are Fox's Fringe, A&E's Longmire, USA's Political Animals, and NBC's The West Wing and Chuck.

"This unprecedented agreement brings to Netflix members earlier and more exclusively than ever before complete previous seasons of some of the most prominent and successful shows on network and cable television," Ted Sarandos, Netflix chief content officer, said in a statement. "Through deals like this, Netflix is making the production economics right for the continued creation of the kind of compelling serialized dramas and thrillers that our members love."

The agreement covers a current slate of eight Warner Bros. shows as well as potential future shows, the companies said. Under the agreement, the shows can also be made available via traditional syndication windows, electronic sell-through services and on a catch-up basis for recently aired episodes.

"SVOD has become an important window for our serialized dramas, allowing viewers a chance to discover a series that before might have been intimidating to tune into mid-run," said Bruce Rosenblum, president, Warner Bros. Television Group. "We continue to adapt our business models to include SVOD when it makes sense for the long-term value of each show and are thrilled to have Netflix as one of our distribution partners.