The lucrative pact between The CW and Netflix is no more. The network previously struck a deal with the streaming service in 2011 that would find The CW shows likeArrow,The Flash, and eventuallyRiverdalelanding automatically on Netflix once their seasons ended, but with the deal up for renegotiation this spring, The CW declined to renew it.
Per Deadline, The CW will be shopping its new shows individually to the various streaming homes. That doesn’t mean these series won’t still end up on Netflix, but Netflix will now have to bid against competitors to land any new series from The CW. Netflix will continue getting new seasons of shows they already have, which includesRiverdale,Flash, andDynasty, and past seasons of CW series that premiered through the current 2018-2019 season will continue to stream on Netflix during the broadcast life of the series and beyond.
What this development pertains to is new shows airing on The CW after the 2018-2019 season, in which case the network will be shopping the streaming rights to Netflix as well as other competitors. That includes theBatwomanseries starringRuby Rose, theNancy Drewshow, and theRiverdalespinoffKaty Keen. Of note:Batwomanis owned by Warner Bros. TV and could end up on the WarnerMedia streaming service that’s expected to debut early next year.
The CW benefitted from this Netflix deal in years past, as the network routinely saw ratings for its shows rise after they went to Netflix. Viewers could get caught up on past seasons on the streaming service and then catch the new season in the fall, as happened withRiverdale. The pact was unique in that the full season of a CW show would debut on Netflix eight days after its season finale.
But most saw this coming. When Disney announced plans to launch its own streaming service Disney+, it ended its contract with Netflix that saw a variety of new Disney films landing on the streaming service. Starting withCaptain Marvel, all new Disney movies will debut on Disney+, and once their current deal expires you can expect films likeAvengers: Infinity WarandMulanto move there as well.
Likewise, NBCUniversal is expected to take backThe OfficeandFriendsfrom Netflix once those licenses expire, but while this game of “I’m taking my ball and going home” may sound great to the individual companies launching streaming services, content is about to be stretched so thin that there’s no way a consumer can afford all the various services.
As for Netflix, they’rereallygonna have to start creating more rewatchable content. Shows likeMindhunterandGLOWare great, but they don’t really lend themselves to the same comfort-viewing as something likeThe Office. At least CW fans can rest easy that the network’s current favorites likeRiverdaleandLegends of Tomorroware staying put.
