'Friends' is staying on Netflix 'throughout 2019,' company says
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
"Friends," the NBC sitcom that has enjoyed a second life on streaming services, is not disappearing from Netflix next month, the company's content boss told NBC News on Monday.
"No, it's not leaving in January," Ted Sarandos, chief content officer, said.
Sarandos' response came after a Business Insider article sent "Friends" fans into overdrive. The report said that the streaming service displayed a note on its "Friends" page reading: "Availability: Until 1/1/19 ."
A quick Twitter search provided no shortage of fans voicing their concern — many of them with GIFs of the show.
t is unclear how much longer the show will remain on Netflix, given that WarnerMedia, the content company now owned by AT&T that owns the rights to "Friends," is planning its own direct-to-consumer streaming service set to launch late next year.
WarnerMedia did not have an immediate response when asked how long its "Friends" deal runs with Netflix.
Late in the day, Netflix said on Twitter that "Friends" would be on its service throughout 2019.
The controversy highlights how consumers may soon find themselves having to make difficult decisions about just how many streaming services they're willing to pay for. While "Friends" can be seen widely on TV, it is an undeniable draw for Netflix and would likely be a key show for any new Warner streaming product. New York magazine's Vulture section asked in 2016, "Is 'Friends' Still the Most Popular Show on TV," based on its enduring popularity thanks to on-demand streaming services.
Sarandos was speaking at an investor conference held by UBS on Monday where he dismissed fears that rivals such as Disney and WarnerMedia would eat into Netflix's subscriber base. Both are planning to launch their own streaming media services.
WarnerMedia told investors last week it was launching a three-tiered direct-to-consumer online video service with different price points: one tier for movies, another for blockbuster movies and original programming, and a third for movies, original programming and library content.
When asked for his reaction to WarnerMedia's offering, Sarandos said: "You saw that presentation. Hard to understand it. I'm not being critical of it. They are taking a bunch of things that are already out there and repackaging them into tiers."
When asked about his competitors at other big tech companies, such as Apple and Amazon, Sarandos said Netflix shows simply would not find themselves on rival services, pointing toward a future in which companies wall off their content.
"I think there's room for them to be successful," Sarandos said. "They would not hurt us at all. Nothing that's on Netflix would be on those services, and nothing on those services, over time, would be on Netflix."
Sarandos also commented on the rapidly changing shape of the pay-TV business, which is being remade by changing consumption habits and is forcing mergers between giants such as Fox and Disney and AT&T and Time Warner.
"We were never in that position to say, 'How do you protect your business?'" he said. "All the networks, all the studios, they have to protect their own business, and once you start that you are done."
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The interesting thing is that it proves the power of the pen. If it moves Netflix, think what it could do elsewhere.
btw.. Netflix, you better be bringing back "The Last Kingdom"!
Yeah, they are lucky.
In fact that it isn't about the viewership at all, if it was we would still have Jericho, Dark Matter & Longmire to enjoy.
All of them had big followings and inundated the networks with requests to not cancel them.....
The networks could care less......
This is a pure contract money situation and when it isn't pulling enough viewers for the advertisers they are good as gone.... "Friends" will be no different...
Reality TV rules the day.... Decent programming takes a back seat to garbage....
Would be nice if Firefly could find a second life out there.
I'm watching Expanse on Prime and I watched 'Jack Ryan' Season 1 also on prime.
Awesome show.
OMG that show is amazing. It was a little slow in the beginning, but within 5 eps I was hooked. I can't wait till the next season!
And it was a write in that saved that show and "The Last Kingdom".
Don't like your TV? With twitter it's quick and easy!
Earth Shattering News?
Not at all JBB, other than showing the power of the pen, which can be used for any reason.
I never cared for Friends. One of the least funny hit comedies ever, imo.
Frasier? Yes.
Seinfeld? Yes.
Friends? No. I'd rather watch Married With Children.
I have a friend who has no TV service except Netflix (and the local free channels you get with an antenna). He and his wife are happy with it. There is so much content on Netflix that if you are happy with what they show you don't need anything else. They also have You Tube (through Roku) which they use to play kids shows on the big screen for their 4 little kids.
I have Sling , Netflix and Hulu. I am thinking about dropping Sling because I don't use it much.
I have noticed that many media companies are starting to charge for their one channel. ESPN recently started a stand alone pay channel. Once a lot of them do that consumers will have to make serious choices or have a bunch of separate 10 dollar a month streaming bills.
I just don't see the need to re-watch things like that. I liked the show but I don't need to see it over and over again.
Kind of like MASH. I have seen them all, I don't need to see them all again.
Exactly what I have.
We have Netflix and Hulu and Apple TV.
Looks like it is heading towards cable being a thing of the past.
My Niece had Netflix up in college, no cable. Was all she needed. A lot cheaper.
My daughters streamed through their Apple TV and got our Netflix and Hulu. It was a lot cheaper.