NBC shows to stream on Netflix
Netflix has reached a deal with NBC Universal to put "Saturday Night Live," "30 Rock," "Friday Night Lights," "Battlestar Galactica," "Monk" and other TV shows on its online instant streaming service, the companies announced Friday.
The Los Gatos, Calif., online DVD rental pioneer's "Watch Instantly" service is available for customers in the U.S. who pay at least $8.99 a month to get discs by mail and watch online -- or consumers in Canada who pay at least $7.99 monthly for Internet-only viewing.
"This agreement adds meaningfully to the wide variety of content that can be streamed from Netflix and breaks new ground in our relationship with NBC Universal," Ted Sarandos, Netflix's chief content officer, said in a statement announcing the deal.
Financial terms of the agreement weren't disclosed. Wall Street investors, though, applauded the deal, sending Netflix shares up to as much as $167.12 early Friday, an all-time high.
The agreement includes all episodes of "SNL," including day-after-broadcast viewing for the next three seasons. Most other shows, however, will be from previous seasons.
"We applaud Netflix for recognizing the value of content like 'SNL,' 'Friday Night Lights,' 'Monk,' and 'Battlestar Galactica' to their subscribers," NBC Universal Domestic TV Distribution executive Frances Manfredi said in the news release.
Netflix has reached numerous deals with Hollywood studios and production houses to secure television programming and movies for its instant streaming service. In the company's most recent earnings report, CEO Reed Hastings said the service helped Netflix attract 1 million new subscribers during the second quarter.
The service is available on Windows and Mac computers; video game consoles such as Microsoft's Xbox 360; Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch; and other consumer electronics devices. In a blog post Thursday, Hastings said Netflix is considering adding a streaming-only option for U.S. customers in coming months.
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