Spoilt for choice
It might not seem like a big deal if you’re not a fan, but Netflix is losing the rights to stream The Office US and Friends. These two heavyweight comedies might be old, but they’re much loved and having them in one place to watch anytime is a massive draw. Especially for those that like to have shows on as background noise.
From 2020 Friends will air on new streaming rival, HBO Max. The Office US has been bought back by the studio that made it, NBCUniversal, for a bespoke, as yet unannounced, Netflix rival.
The Walt Disney Company has already reclaimed the rights to Marvel, Star Wars and other properties for Disney+. And don’t forget Apple TV+, which arrives in 2019, and the fact that StarzPlay has already cut into Netflix Middle Eastern audience share.
As a result, we will have more choice than ever – almost overwhelmingly so – as the days of all the big hitters streaming on one or two platforms are dead.
Original pilot material
But it’s not all doom and gloom for Netflix. One area it excels is with its Original programming. Hits such as Stranger Things, Narcos and comedy specials from the likes of Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais will gain even more focus. And without the mooted $90m needed to keep the likes of Friends for an extra year, they can finance more critically acclaimed movies such as Roma.
So yes, Netflix isn’t exactly having its finest moment right now. It’ll receive more body blows when the big rivals finally launch. But with it can roll with the punches and still come out victorious if it can lean further into its original programming. And let’s be honest, we’ll all be subscribing for Stranger Things 4, won’t we?