CBS Corporation announced a two-year, non-exclusive licensing agreement with Netflix. The deal allows Netflix to stream select TV shows from the CBS library.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but CBS says it has an option to extend the agreement for an additional two year.
Beginning in early April, dozens of hit shows from CBS will join the extensive library of television shows and movies available for instant viewing from Netflix, which currently charges $7.99 per month for the service. Content covered under the new deal includes some current series, such as the long-running drama, “Medium” and the summer season favorite, “Flashpoint.” Also covered under the agreement are episodes from some of television’s most iconic franchises. Full seasons of sitcom greats “Frasier,” “Family Ties” and “Cheers” will be streaming instantly from Netflix. Episodes from the original “Hawaii Five-0” are included in the package, as are episodes from all generations of the definitive sci-fi series, “Star Trek,” and the cult favorite, “Twin Peaks.” Installments of ’60s classics, “The Twilight Zone” and “The Andy Griffith Show,” will be available as well.
RBR-TVBR observation: What you don’t see here are the big hit shows currently airing on CBS, The CW and in syndication. Les Moonves has made it clear that he intends to protect the network rerun and syndication value of hit shows by not making them too readily available online.
