As you may have noticed, Netflix has been adding some shows to its library a bit sooner than usual following the series' original airdate. For example, FX's American Horror Story's first season went up last fall, about a year after it aired, and Scandal's first season was made available streaming on Netflix just months from its original airing on ABC. From Netflix's recent announcement about the deal they've signed with Warner Bros. Television Group, it looks like we'll be seeing some other great, currently-airing TV shows on Netflix in the future.
Netflix announced today that they've signed a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. TV, which will allow them to stream NBC's Revolution, Fox's upcoming new drama The Following, A&E's Longmore, ABC's 666 Park Avenue and USA's limited series Political Animals. Among the finished (or soon-to-be-finished) series mentioned are Chuck, Fringe and The West Wing.
“This unprecedented agreement brings to Netflix members earlier and more exclusively than ever before complete previous seasons of some of the most prominent and successful shows on network and cable television,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer. “Through deals like this, Netflix is making the production economics right for the continued creation of the kind of compelling serialized dramas and thrillers that our members love.”
Netflix mentions that they'll be the exclusive online home of complete prior seasons of shows from 2012-13 season, and that these shows will be coming "next year." (Though The West Wing is actually already available streaming). Based on that, it doesn't sound like viewers who want to get caught up on Revolution between Seasons 1 and 2 (assuming it's renewed) will be able to do that via Netflix this summer, but at the very least, Netflix will be getting the series up in a more timely manner than what we've seen in the past. And that will hopefully allow for more viewers to board these shows later on during the series' run.
