Why is The Office leaving Netflix? NBC sitcom is moving to another service
26 June 2019, 14:05
To quote Michael Scott: "No, God! No! God! Please! No! No! No! Noooooooooooooooo!"
Another day, another TV show that's about to leave Netflix foreverrrrr. So far this year, it's already been announced that Pretty Little Liars would be leaving the streaming service as well as all Disney and Marvel content ahead of the launch of the new Disney+ streaming service.
Now, it's been confirmed that The Office is being taken off of Netflix - and it's all thanks to another new network streaming service who want their own show back. Time to start looking for a DVD player and a brand new box set... or ya know, start paying for another streaming service.
Why is The Office leaving Netflix?
A few months ago, rumours started circulating that The Office would be leaving Netflix. Nothing was confirmed but talk that NBC might be starting a new streaming service that would see all its shows housed in one place started to do the rounds.
It's now been confirmed that NBC have secured "exclusive domestic streaming rights" for all nine seasons of the show and will be streaming the sitcom on its own service.
"We're sad that NBC has decided to take The Office back for its own streaming platform — but members can binge watch the show to their hearts' content ad-free on Netflix until January 2021," Netflix wrote in a tweet. And that's the bad news.
The good news? You'll have just over a year to squeeze in at least 9 further rewatches, because it won't be leaving until 2021. Netflix have a contract with NBC that allows them the rights to stream the show domestically. That contract expires in January 2021. After that, it will be only available to stream on the company's new service for five years.
Not only is this the worst thing that's ever happened to us all personally (including notable stan Billie Eilish), it'll also likely be a huge blow for Netflix too. It was reported earlier this year that users are spending more time streaming the show than any other on the service.
As for Friends? Will that be leaving? Probably. So don't get too attached. That will likely be removed from Netflix at the end of the contract and will exclusively stream on the new WarnerMedia streaming service. Riverdale could also follow suit and be removed from Netflix, as The CW is owned by WarnerMedia.
