Netflix lands streaming rights to Seinfeld

[TMC]

https://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...ts-to-seinfeld

All 180 Seinfeld episodes will be available to stream for all Netflix subscribers worldwide starting in 2021. Netflix has struck a deal with Sony Pictures Television, which controls Seinfeld rights. Hulu currently has Seinfeld's streaming rights. Landing Seinfeld will help Netflix as it loses The Office and Friends in coming years. "Seinfeld is a one-of-a-kind, iconic, culture-defining show,” Sony Pictures Television Chairman Mike Hopkins said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. “Now, 30 years after its premiere, Seinfeld remains center stage. We’re thrilled to be partnering with Netflix to bring this beloved series to current fans and new audiences around the globe.” ALSO: Seinfeld reportedly only accounted for 1% of Hulu's viewing.

[TSMIV]

I thought this was good news until I got to the 2021 part.

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Will Netflix adapt Hulu's killer Seinfeld feature?

As Catie Keck points out, Netflix is missing one of Hulu’s best features for streaming the series. "Great as this news may be for Netflix, cord-cutters with both services may see their Seinfeld-streaming experience degraded by the platform shift," she says. "Currently, the Seinfeld page on Hulu serves users a feature on the landing page to help navigate the show’s nearly 200 episodes. Nearly a dozen series-specific tags help filter Seinfeld episodes by popularity, breakup-related episodes, and episodes with a crime theme, among others. There’s even a Beginner’s Guide. These are not features that are currently available for some of Netflix’s own binge-worthy classics. But with Netflix constantly overhauling its platform to add more user-specific features—like the recently added Latest tab to surface new, upcoming, and trending content on a dedicated page rather than on the homepage, where it may otherwise be overlooked or missed—it’s not totally outside the realm of possibility that a feature similar to Hulu’s could surface on the platform." ALSO: Netflix's Seinfeld deal reinforces how important nostalgia is in its streaming success.

[TV Guy]

They paid a half a billion dollars for the show for five years. That is an astounding figure, especially for a show that hasn’t produced new episodes for over 20 years. Warner Bros. and Jerry continue to mint money from this show. I bet the supporting cast is sorry that they didn’t hold out to get a percentage of the back end.

The downside is that these kinds of deals will only drive up the cost of streaming services.

[Chocolate Moose]

That's way too much money.

[dakert]

You would think the fans of Seinfeld would have the DVDs by now.

[TMC]

Netflix's Seinfeld deal could bolster its relationship with Jerry Seinfeld

Seinfeld already has deals with Netflix for standup specials and Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. But having a relationship with Seinfeld is something that Netflix's competitors for the Seinfeld streaming rights didn't have. "Seinfeld (the sitcom) rights could strengthen the efficiency of its existing deal with Seinfeld (the person)," says Adam Levy. "Inversely, its existing deal with Seinfeld (the person) increases the effectiveness of its new Seinfeld (the sitcom) deal to keep subscribers engaged. That could make the premium over The Office or Friends worth it for Netflix, but not for Netflix's competitors.'

Report: Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David are each making at least $100 million from Seinfeld's Netflix deal

The Seinfeld co-creators could are each earning $100 million to $125 million from the Netflix $500 million-plus deal, reports The Wrap, based on two sources. Another source tells The Wrap the actual figure is significantly higher.