Netflix Partners CBS, Disney to
Stream TV Shows
The
world's leading online movie rental service Netflix has signed separate
agreements with the CBS Television Network and Disney-ABC Television Group
that will allow current season episodes of a number of TV shows to be
streamed at Netflix. The two deals add to a growing library of 12,000
choices that Netflix members can watch instantly on their PCs and TVs as
part of their existing subscription plans and without impacting the number
of DVDs they receive.
The CBS
deal brings to Netflix the global phenomenon "CSI." Starting in October,
when it returns for a ninth year, current season episodes of the original
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" can be instantly streamed at Netflix.
Beginning
this week, current season episodes of the hit spin-offs "CSI: Miami" and
"CSI: NY" join the roster. The CBS agreement includes two additional
current hit shows, "NCIS," which dramatizes the Naval Criminal
Investigative Service of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, and the FBI
drama "Numb3rs," from producers Ridley and Tony Scott. "NCIS" returns for
its sixth season this week and "Numb3rs" is back for a fifth season in
October.
The
agreement for Disney Channel content centers on three of the Channel's
original series -- "Hannah Montana," "Wizards of Waverly Place," and
Disney Channel's newest original series, "The Suite Life on Deck," a
spin-off of the hit, Emmy-nominated "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,"
starring fan favorites Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Brenda Song and Phill Lewis
and introducing Debbie Ryan.
The
series premieres Friday, September 26. "Wizards of Waverly Place" and "The
Suite Life on Deck" can be streamed instantly at Netflix beginning this
week, 24 hours after each episode's initial broadcast. Disney Channel's
comedy series "Hannah Montana," starring multi-talented Miley Cyrus, will
be available online at Netflix beginning this November.
Brokered
by Disney-ABC Domestic Television, the deal represents the first Netflix
digital license for Disney-ABC Television Group content since Netflix
launched the instant streaming component of its service 18 months ago and
is a significant addition to the company's lineup of studio and network
partners.
The
agreements with CBS and Disney Channel also add catalog shows to the
library of choices that can be watched instantly at Netflix. Some 500
episodes from Disney Channel's kid-driven, family-inclusive programming
library, including previously aired episodes of "The Suite Life of Zack &
Cody," "Wizards of Waverly Place" and "Hannah Montana," as well as
episodes of the popular animated series "The Replacements," "Lilo &
Stitch: The Series," "The Emperor's New School" and many others, will come
online to Netflix beginning in 2009.
Some 350
CBS episodes covered in the deal include prior seasons of the three "CSI"
series and "Numb3rs," the first two seasons of the popular "Jericho"
series and, among others, episodes from TV classics such as "Star Trek,"
"MacGyver," and "Family Ties." The catalog episodes will come online this
fall.
As
Netflix continues to expand the online content it offers its members, the
company is also partnering with leaders in consumer electronics to bring
to market a growing number of network devices that can instantly stream
movies and TV episodes from Netflix directly to subscribers' TVs. The
Netflix Player by Roku was introduced in May to strong reviews and Netflix
has previously announced plans to instantly stream movies and TV episodes
via Microsoft's Xbox 360 game console and LG Electronic's LG BD300 Network
Blu-ray Disc Player starting this fall.
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