Streaming is revolutionizing the world of television, and hundreds of millions of dollars are flying around at the minute. In the midst of the chaos, it’s worth tracking which of the most beloved streaming shows will have new homes in 2020.
Among the biggest battles playing out among streaming platform adversaries is the acquisition of iconic TV series. Many legendary sitcoms and long-running shows have been subject to bidding wars between current streaming giants and new but powerful enterprises just joining the market.
SNIPdaily featured writer Duane Beckett and I came up with a list of our most notable shows moving elsewhere from their current steaming services in the next year.
The Big Bang Theory (HBO Max)
(Fitzgerald) After a 12-season run on CBS, TBS signed the sitcom to a syndication deal. That positive alliance allowed WarnerMedia to nab The Big Bang Theory for HBO Max with five years of exclusive streaming rights — and ultimately extend its TBS syndication through 2028. It’s all reportedly worth “billions of dollars.”
HBO Max has really gone in haven’t they? Between this iconic show, Friends and South Park, which was revealed to be theirs to stream at their big media day last week, WarnerMedia is not messing around when it comes to acquiring legendary shows.
That’s going to be key for HBO Max since the new service is asking for $14.99 per month from subscribers.
Although those with an HBO subscription already don’t have to pay, and it’s the same price as HBO Now was, it’s still exorbitant compared to Disney+’s $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year price tag. Plus, Verizon customers get a full year of Disney+ for free.
Cheers (Peacock)
(Fitzgerald) Peacock wasn’t able to hang onto the sitcom to end all sitcoms that it used to house at NBC: Seinfeld. Beginning in 2021, the show will exclusively stream on Netflix thanks to a whopping $500 million-plus deal.
However, NBC’s new streaming service isn’t taking its foot off the gas when it comes to retaining its most beloved properties.
Cheers is one that’s going to stay. The good news is, until Peacock goes live in April, the show is available essentially everywhere: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and CBS All Access all carry it.
Frasier (Peacock)
(Fitzgerald) Frasier is available on all the platforms Cheers is (just to be thorough: Netflix, Prime, Hulu and CBS All Access) for the foreseeable future. However, it too will eventually return to where it all started, but revealed to a whole new audience in a new era: NBC’s Peacock.
The Kelsey Grammer vehicle, which Cheers served as a direct springboard for as it was a spin-off of that show, ultimately featured all the regular actors from that show at some point or another.
But the constant was Grammer, and he’s even spoken seriously about a reboot. That makes NBC’s move to lock up the show all the more vital, because there’s still upside to explore regarding the future of this prolific preexisting property.
House (Peacock)
(Fitzgerald) Instead of going with another NBC-Peacock combo, let’s go with the Hugh Laurie-led M.D. masterpiece that’s still going to Peacock despite being a Fox original.
House has changed hands to much controversy already in the cord-cutting era. It was evident the appetite for the show was still ravenous when it left Netflix in 2017. A Change.org petition was organized, and it accrued several thousand signatures. To no avail, of course.
House is one of the best TV shows ever in its simple contradiction of focusing on a misanthropic man who’s in the ultimate profession of helping others. Laurie’s American accent is never amiss, and he brings so much wit, depth and ultimately vulnerability to the role.
Right now it’s still available on Amazon Prime Video and through NBC itself, but Peacock will be home for House for the foreseeable future.
The West Wing (HBO Max)
(Fitzgerald) Do you love Aaron Sorkin’s insanely cerebral dialogue? Do you want to see a collection of insanely underrated acting ensemble even by today’s standards? Then it’d be worth checking into this turn-of-the-millennium political drama.
Right now, it’s on Netflix. Go ahead and give it a whirl and see if you’re not hooked immediately.
The West Wing was initially broadcast on NBC, but Peacock didn’t get this one! It’s headed to HBO Max, so do yourself a favor and dig on it there in 2020. Speaking of that incredible ensemble cast, though, let’s go down part of the line.
Martin Sheen plays the President of the United States. The lead actor from Apocalypse Now. Speaking Sorkin (show creator) dialogue. Walking and talking a lot. It’s a lot neater than it sounds.
Oh, Stockard Channing, 13-time Primetime Emmy nominee and Tony Award winner, is the First Lady. Let’s keep going. Rob Lowe co-stars as the Commander-in-Chief’s speechwriter. Oscar winner Allison Janney is the Press Secretary.
This show ran for seven seasons, but Sorkin bowed out after four. It’s at least worth sticking through until that point.
South Park (HBO Max)
(Beckett) The Comedy Central hit show South Park is leaving Disney’s Hulu in a deal worth between $500 and $550 million.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s animated creation will join HBO Max exclusively in June 2020.
South Park originally aired in August 1997 and is still going strong. Season 23 is currently showing on Comedy Central and remains a top cable show amongst the 18-49 crowd.
Friends (HBO Max)
(Beckett) Netflix’s top show Friends is leaving the streaming service and will no longer be available come January 1st, 2020.
WarnerMedia has picked up the show in a 5-year exclusive deal worth $425-million. That’s $85-million per year. $ 5 million more than what Netflix reportedly paid.
Friends will be available on HBO Max at launch in May 2020. Including all 236 episodes.
The Simpsons (Disney+)
(Beckett) Disney got The Simpsons as part of the $71.3-billion 21st Century Fox acquisition.
The long-running animated show currently streams on Hulu, another platform Disney owns.
All 30 seasons of The Simpsons will be available on Disney+ at launch. The service launches November 12th and you can see our guide here.
Parks & Recreation (Peacock)
(Beckett) All seven seasons of Parks and Recreation are available on Netflix, Prime, and Hulu. That’ll end in October 2020.
NBC Universal’s streaming platform Peacock, which launches April 2020 has snapped up the hit comedy.
The price paid for the exclusivity of Ron Swanson & Co. is unknown but is reportedly nine-figures.
Parks and Recreation will be available on Peacock in October 2020.
The Office (HBO Max)
(Beckett) Netflix’s deal with The Office ends in December 2020.
This means that by the end of 2020 the streaming giant would have lost its top three shows. Including Friends and Parks and Recreation.
The Office moves to NBC Universal’s Peacock service in January 2021. It’s an exclusive deal worth $500-million over five years.
The loss of this and others will put pressure on Netflix’s crown as top streaming service. They’ve already started spending big in the hunt for more hits like Stranger Things.