Netflix Announces Agreement With Disney-ABC Television Group to Stream Several Hit ABC Series
August 03 2009 - 3:01AM
PR Newswire (US)
Select Prior Seasons of 'Lost,' 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Desperate
Housewives' Will be Available from Netflix to Watch Instantly on
Computers and TVs BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ --
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX), the world's largest online movie
rental service, today announced an agreement with Disney-ABC
Television Group that will make several of ABC's most popular TV
series available to be streamed instantly from Netflix. In its
entirety, the deal will allow Netflix members to instantly watch
the first five seasons of the hit ABC franchise "Lost," seasons
four and five of the pop culture phenomenon "Desperate Housewives,"
season five of the critically acclaimed "Grey's Anatomy," and
seasons one and two of the syndicated epic action-adventure fantasy
series "Legend of the Seeker" from ABC Studios. Many of the
episodes, including the first four seasons of "Lost," will be
available from Netflix beginning August 1. The remainder will be
available in subsequent months, beginning in September. Overall,
the agreement extends the online relationship between Netflix and
Disney-ABC Television Group, which announced their first digital
licensing deal last September. That agreement centered on original
series from Disney Channel, including the hits "Hannah Montana,"
"Wizards of Waverly Place," "The Suite Life on Deck," and Disney
Channel's two newest original series, "JONAS" and "Sonny with a
Chance." That deal, which will continue, makes episodes available
day-after-broadcast. The new agreement, which was brokered by
Disney-ABC Domestic Television, adds top broadcast properties to a
growing library of more than 12,000 movies and TV episodes that
Netflix members can watch instantly on their computers and TVs as
part of their membership at no additional monthly cost. "We're
excited about this new agreement since it builds on a strong
foundation with Disney-ABC Television Group," said Robert Kyncl,
vice president of content acquisition for Netflix. "In all, we're
providing Netflix members with some of the most popular and avidly
followed shows on TV while working with an important business
partner to help grow several of its key franchises." As Netflix
continues to expand the movies and TV episodes that its members can
watch instantly, the company is also partnering with leaders in
consumer electronics to bring to market a growing number of network
devices that can instantly stream movies and TV episodes from
Netflix directly to members' TVs. Those devices include Blu-ray
disc players and new Internet TVs from LG Electronics; Blu-ray disc
players from Samsung; the Roku digital video player; Microsoft's
Xbox 360 game console; TiVo digital video recorders; and, soon,
Internet TVs from Sony and VIZIO. About Netflix, Inc. Netflix, Inc.
is the world's largest online movie rental service, with more than
10 million subscribers. For one low monthly price, Netflix
subscribers can get DVDs delivered to their homes and can instantly
watch movies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and computers,
all in unlimited amounts. Subscribers can choose from over 100,000
DVD titles and a growing library of more than 12,000 choices that
can be watched instantly. There are never any due dates or late
fees. DVDs are delivered free to subscribers by first class mail,
with a postage-paid return envelope, from 58 distribution centers.
More than 97 percent of Netflix subscribers live in areas that
generally receive shipments in one business day. Netflix has
partnered with leading consumer electronics companies to offer a
range of devices that can instantly stream movies and TV episodes
to subscribers' TVs from Netflix. For more information, visit
http://www.netflix.com/. DATASOURCE: Netflix, Inc. CONTACT: Steve
Swasey of Netflix, Inc., +1-408-540-3947, Web Site:
http://www.netflix.com/
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