The consequences of the arrival of WarnerMedia's streaming service are becoming increasingly clear. A new service will be launched in the US and Netflix will lose many titles as a result. Previously Pretty Little Liars and now also Friends. Good news for us: this only applies to the US!
Strange amounts
It was previously announced that Netflix has extended the rights to Friends for a year for a huge sum of money. Starting January 1, 2020, the series will be moved to WarnerMedia's new service, called HBOMax. According to sources from Hollywood Reporter WarnerMedia reportedly paid a crazy $425 million for Friends, thus outbidding Netflix.
Friends stays on Netflix in the Netherlands
Rights vary widely worldwide and in the US. The same goes for Friends. The new HBOMax service is only available in the US, which is why WarnerMedia bought the rights to Friends for that country only. Netflix has the rights to the series in the Netherlands, among other places, and that won’t change for now. So the show’s disappearance doesn’t apply to us. However, that’s no guarantee for the future.
One where we have to say goodbye.
Sorry to see Friends move to Warner Bros.' streaming service in early 2020 (in the US). Thanks for the memories gang ☕
– Netflix US (@netflix) July 9, 2019
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