Netflix has completed an exclusive deal with Disney-ABC for current dramas just coming off their first season. ABC is hoping that offering the complete first seasons of their newest dramas (Scandal, Once Upon A Time, and Revenge) will drum up interest as the shows begin their second season broadcasts within the next month.
In a press release, Netflix Chief Content Officer, Ted Sarandos was quoted as saying:
“We are thrilled that Netflix will become the exclusive subscription destination for the first seasons of these successful ABC shows. We know our members like to immerse themselves in their favorite shows and Scandal, Revenge and Once Upon a Time are the kind of smart, serialized dramas that Netflix members love.”
The three shows join a lineup of older ABC content already streaming from Netflix Instant such as Lost, and can be seen as a win for both Netflix and ABC. The deal allows ABC to compete with other networks that are increasingly using streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu to increase viewer awareness, allowing new viewers to catch up before the next season airs and allowing fans already loyal to the show to maintain their interest in it (to wit, they won’t have to scramble through torrents and other Internet grey areas to get their fix should their DVR accidentally erase a favorite episode). It’s an obvious win for Netflix and their instant streaming service as it allows the 15 year-old Los Gatos, CA company a way for them to tout new content offerings over the older movies and TV shows the company has long relied on due to content licensing restrictions with the major content producers, studios and TV networks who traditionally have lusted after syndication deals and DVD sales to keep the bottom line fat and happy.
