Netflix and AMC Networks announced a multi-year
licensing agreement in which prior seasons of AMC's The Walking Dead will be available exclusively to U.S. and Canada
Netflix members beginning Friday. The deal includes instant streaming of additional
seasons of The Walking Dead, as well
as future AMC and Sundance Channel programming just prior to the next season's
premieres.
Netflix has also acquired rights to select shows from across AMC's portfolio of networks, including IFC's Portlandia
and The Increasingly Poor Decisions of
Todd Margaret; WE tv's Braxton Family
Values, My Fair Wedding and Bridezillas; and Sundance Channel's All On The Line with Joe Zee and Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys. The
shows will also be made available on Netflix prior to the premieres of the
following season.
The agreement comes after Netflix's deal with Lionsgate in April, allowing the service to stream prior seasons of Mad Men in the U.S. and Latin America, along with earlier episodes of Breaking Bad.
"Netflix is already the streaming home of Mad Men and Breaking Bad in the U.S. and Latin America," said Ted Sarandos, chief
content officer, Netflix. "We are delighted to be in business directly with AMC
Networks. AMC's programming sensibilities have struck a chord with our members
and with the overall viewing public."
AMC Networks President and CEO Josh Sapan added: "This
agreement supports the cable 'ecosystem' by making our content available to
Netflix nearly a year following the linear premiere, it brings our content to a
wider audience, and it provides additional revenue to support production of new
shows."
