Get ready to make friends with HBO Max; That's the name of Warner Media's new streaming service which is all set to launch in the spring of 2020 with more than 10,000 hours of content including EVERYONE's favourite show - Friends. Yes, you read that right.
Under a new deal with Warner Bros. Television, HBO Max will have exclusive streaming rights at launch to all 236 episodes of Friends, which will roll off Netflix in 2020. “We’re sorry to see Friends go to Warner’s streaming service at the beginning of 2020 (in the US),” Netflix tweeted after Warner Media’s announcement. “Thanks for the memories, gang.” However, Warner Media still hasn’t announced pricing for the service, which will compete with Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus, among others.
The One Where We Have To Say Goodbye.
We’re sorry to see Friends go to Warner's streaming service at the beginning of 2020 (in The US). Thanks for the memories, gang
— Netflix US (@netflix) July 9, 2019
Netflix had re-upped its deal with Warner Bros. TV for exclusive streaming rights to Friends through the end of 2019, but AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson recently said that Warner Media would be reclaiming popular titles that were licensed to others for its own subscription VOD service.
Warner Media also announced new exclusive movie production deals for HBO Max with Greg Berlanti and Reese Witherspoon. Under the pacts, Greg will produce an initial four movies in the young-adult genre, while Reese's Hello Sunshine will produce at least two films for the service. In addition, HBO Max will include all episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air starring Will Smith and Pretty Little Liars, which also will be leaving Netflix.
Moreover, HBO Max will be the exclusive streaming home new Warner Bros.-produced dramas for The CW starting with the fall 2019 season, including the DC Entertainment series Batwoman, and Katy Keene (a spinoff of Riverdale). CW shows going forward will be available on HBO Max beginning 30 days prior to the TV premiere of the next seasons of those shows. CW shows currently licensed to Netflix, which include Riverdale, The Flash and Arrow, will remain on Netflix for the next few years.
(Source: Warner Media and Twitter)
