Can’t sleep so was trying to enjoy some Friends.. then Netflix gives me the notification that friends is LEAVING NETFLIX ON JANUARY 1st. My day is ruined at only 7:30 am.. and also my 2019.
After freaking out for a few days, Friends fans were overjoyed when Netflix US announced on Twitter that the iconic show will still be available to stream in 2019.
The Holiday Armadillo has granted your wish: “Friends” will still be there for you in the US throughout 2019 pic.twitter.com/Yd0VqRzk3r
Details have now emerged of how much it cost Netflix US to keep Friends for one more year. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the streaming service paid somewhere between $95 million and $109 million USD.
That's a huge increase on the $40 million Netflix US has reportedly paid each year since 2015 to stream the show on its platform.
It's unclear what will happen to Friends in 2020 which is when WarnerMedia, which owns the rights to the sitcom, will launch a new streaming service of its own.
AT&T chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson hinted yesterday that Friends could be available for streaming on both Netflix US and the yet to be named WarnerMedia streaming service.
"Well, (Netflix) re-signed it on a non-exclusive basis," Mr Stephenson said. "What does that mean? That means Friends could go on to our platform as well."