Ragesh Dipu
The hit NBC series ‘The Office’ will leave Netflix when its deal with the streamer expires in 2020, reports Deadline. NBCUniversal’s forthcoming streaming platform will host all nine seasons of the comedy from January 2021 onward. The new streamer holds exclusive domestic streaming rights to the series for five years. NBCU’s deal with Universal Television costs it nearly $100M per year, according to CNBC.
NBCU won the bidding war over Netflix which reportedly tabled a $90M per year deal. The company plans to launch its ad-supported streaming service in 2020.
Based on the BBC comedy series of the same name, ‘The Office’ centers on the fictional company Dunder Mifflin in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It depicts the everyday lives of the employees in a mockumentary format. The major cast includes Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Mindy Kaling, and Mike Schur. Debuted in 2005, the series went on to become a cult-favorite with 42 Emmy nominations and 5 wins among other accolades.
“The Office has become a staple of pop culture and is a rare gem whose relevance continues to grow at a time when fans have more entertainment choices than ever before,” Bonnie Hammer, chairman of NBCUniversal DTC and digital enterprises, is quoted as saying by THR, “We can’t wait to welcome the gang from Dunder Mifflin to NBCUniversal’s new streaming service.”
The move comes in line with other media giants like WarnerMedia, Apple and Disney going ahead with their own streaming platforms while pulling off their popular shows from Netflix slate. WarnerMedia is also expected to take back their flagship series ‘Friends’ from Netflix for their upcoming streaming service after the deal expires this year.
“We’re sad that NBC has decided to take The Office back for its own streaming platform — but members can binge watch the show to their hearts’ content ad-free on Netflix until January 2021,” Netflix tweeted on June 25.
“The Office is one of our most prized series, and we are thrilled it has found an exciting new home where generation after generation will continue to discover and rediscover Michael Scott’s most cringe-worthy moments, Jim and Pam’s will-they-or-won’t-they, and the incredible quirky ensemble that makes each episode a masterclass in comedy,” UTV president Pearlena Igbokw is quoted as saying by THR. According to NBCU, ‘The Office’ holds the top spot across all subscription-based VOD services. The figures show that it was streamed more than 52 billion minutes.
Cover Image Courtesy: NBC.
