Netflix and NBC Universal renew streaming options, recent SNL episodes nixed

July 13, 2011 By Mike Flacy

Can new seasons from NBC shows like Law and Order: SVU, Pysch or The Event help improve Netflix's image? NBC Universal and Netflix pen a new deal rumored to cost $300 million.

While Netflix subscribers have voiced displeasure with the company on the Web all day due to a 60 percent price increase announced yesterday, Netflix quietly announced a renewed, multi-year contract agreement with NBC Universal. The new deal keeps all the existing NBC content online and adds the latest seasons of shows like The Office, Psych and Law and Order: SVU. Netflix Instant subscribers will also see more classic NBC television like Leave It To Beaver and Crossing Jordan as well as movies from NBC Universal like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

While the new agreement includes new seasons of Saturday Night Live after a season wraps, episodes during the season will no longer be available the day after the show. Recent SNL episodes are likely to become exclusive on the official NBC site as well as Hulu, a stake of which is owned by NBC. In addition, NBC’s Community remains absent from Netflix due to the partnership with Sony Pictures. The streaming library of Sony content was recently removed from Netflix due to a contact disagreement with Starz.

Other NBC television shows included in the deal are 30 Rock, Parenthood, The Event (recently cancelled), Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane and Warehouse 13. The new agreement is rumored to have jumped from $22 million a year in the 2010 contract to upwards of $300 million a year due to increased demand in streaming content. The agreement is also non-exclusive, thus NBC Universal can license content to other streaming video providers.

It’s likely that Netflix will continue to improve the Netflix Instant streaming service with new content deals. Netflix is in active negotiations with Starz to renew the previous deal and bring Sony’s content back online. In total, Netflix is looking expenses reaching an estimated $2 billion dollars a year for access to libraries of television network shows and feature-length movies, hence the justification for the announced price hike going into effect on September 1.

Showing 14 comments

Jacob Troyer at 4:30am 14th July 2011 I was in the middle of the 2010 SNL episodes...:V
Michael Stewart at 4:21am 14th July 2011 screw nbc, how about bbc. lots better content.
Michael Stewart at 4:21am 14th July 2011 screw nbc, how about bbc. lots better content.
Michael Stewart at 4:21am 14th July 2011 screw nbc, how about bbc. lots better content.
Michael Stewart at 4:21am 14th July 2011 screw nbc, how about bbc. lots better content.
Michael Stewart at 4:21am 14th July 2011 screw nbc, how about bbc. lots better content.
Michael Stewart at 4:21am 14th July 2011 screw nbc, how about bbc. lots better content.
Michael Stewart at 4:21am 14th July 2011 screw nbc, how about bbc. lots better content.
Michael Stewart at 4:21am 14th July 2011 screw nbc, how about bbc. lots better content.
Michael Stewart at 4:21am 14th July 2011 screw nbc, how about bbc. lots better content.
Michael Stewart at 4:21am 14th July 2011 screw nbc, how about bbc. lots better content.
Jake Reynolds at 4:13am 14th July 2011 Yeeesh people get so spoiled with technology. Netflix is a great bargin and is still a good price for all you get.
Danelle Keady at 4:11am 14th July 2011 I love Netflix! I personally have never had an issue and use it a lot so I feel its worth the extra money.
Cassie Reeder at 4:08am 14th July 2011 Netflix is a rip off. $16 a month for 1 badly scratched DVD in the mail at a time and sub-par "streaming" please... Save the $16 and buy the movies you want used at about $4 each on Amazon...