Netflix Adds CBS, Showtime, CW Mix For Canada, Latin America
CBS (NYSE: CBS) and Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX) are expanding their relationship with a new deal that goes both north and south of the U.S. border — and illustrates how idiosyncratic some of these licensing moves can be thanks to existing deals, rights limitations and strategy. The two-year agreement is nearly all about past seasons and library, with a mix that varies by territory and one current CW show for Canada. How it breaks down:
Canada: CW — current and complete back seasons 90210; Showtime — past seasons of Californication, Dexter, The United States of Tara; CBS — library series including Numb3rs, Sleeper Cell, and Twin Peaks.
Latin America: One of the first hints of programming for the September launch in 43 countries (they can be licensed in a batch). This one is only back season. CW — 90210, Showtime — Nurse Jackie, Californication, Dexter; CBS — Medium plus part of the Star Trek library (Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Charmed, and Twin Peaks. (Twin Peaks in Spanish could be quite the experience.)
Netflix and CBS signed a domestic deal in February.
The international streaming deal offers a hint of what could be ahead when Netflix starts its next wave of international expansion, anticipated for UK and possibly Spain in early 2012.
More to come.
Please go over to Europe within the next two years, and let one of the countries be Germany. If not I’ll just wait and stick to LoveFilms for a while.