'F.R.I.E.N.D.S' will be leaving Netflix in 2020? Perhaps yes
What's the story
F.R.I.E.N.D.S is, without a doubt, one of the most popular television shows ever made and has, over the years, transcended to become a global cultural phenomenon. Currently, the popular sitcom is only available to be streamed on Netflix, after having arrived at the giant platform on January 1, 2015. It now appears that F.R.I.E.N.D.S would be leaving Netflix in 2020. Here's the truth.
Comments
Departure is a rumor, says Netflix's Chief Content Officer
Fans went into a frenzy when the Netflix's page indicated that the show would be leaving the streaming platform on January 1. The panic continued over the weekend and spilt onto Monday as fans expressed displeasure on social media. However, Ted Sarandos, Netflix's Chief Content Officer disputed this saying, the 'departure is a rumor'. Notably, the expiration date has now been removed.
Twitter Post
No need for Netflix without 'F.R.I.E.N.D.S'
FRIENDS IS LEAVING NETFLIX ON JANUARY 1ST.
— •Katie (@katietheasian1) December 2, 2018
In other news, I will be canceling my Netflix subscription on January 1st.
Twitter Post
A lousy start to a new year
Friends is officially leaving Netflix January 1st so Merry Christmas :( pic.twitter.com/UBS5T5kjbD
— Des 🖤 (@Destinywilcoxso) December 2, 2018
Shift
F.R.I.E.N.D.S will remain on streaming-platform, albeit on a different one
That said, the show will most likely depart in 2020, as WarnerMedia plans to launch its streaming platform in the fourth quarter of 2019. Notably, the show is the property of Warner Bros TV. The new streaming platform comes as a result of the merger between AT&T and Time Warner, and F.R.I.E.N.D.S will likely be one of the first shows to be streamed there.
Information
Industry analyst Rich Greenfield first speculated about F.R.I.E.N.D.S departure
The news that F.R.I.E.N.D.S might depart from Netflix was first brought up by industry analyst Rich Greenfield, who speculated back in October that the show might disappear from Netflix in 2019, once WarnerMedia launches its own subscription video on demand service.
Opinion
A string of departures marks the rise of other streamers
Although Netflix started as a streaming giant, the competition is heating up and media giants are recalling their original content from Netflix. Before the news of F.R.I.E.N.D.S moving to WarnerMedia, Netflix canceled three Marvel shows, Iron Fist, Luke Cage and Daredevil, as we had reported. These characters are expected to make their way to Disney+, the streaming service by Disney, which owns Marvel Studios.