Update – Netflix has confirmed that the show will be sticking around through 2019.
Comedy TV series “Friends” has been regarded as one of the best comedic sitcoms of all times and is still a huge hit even today. It has also been somewhat of a staple on Netflix’s platform, but there have been reports suggesting that may not be the case in 2019, but at the same time there are reports claiming the opposite.
The initial reports claimed that Netflix could be removing the show from their catalogue come January 2019, presumably as their licensing deal with Warner Bros. Television comes to an end for “Friends”. However a new report from Variety is claiming otherwise, and that following the backlash of the initial report, Netflix could be having a change of heart.
The report cites sources who claims that Netflix is in talks with Warner Bros. Television to retain the streaming rights for the series to keep it as part of its catalogue longer. The series has been part of Netflix since 2015 and is one of the most popular licensed shows, and has also ranked in the top 10 of the most-viewed licensed TV shows for the past 12 months ending in September 2017, according to data from 7Park Data.
Based on this success it is unclear why Netflix would not have wanted to renew its contract with Warner Bros. Television to begin with. In any case the fate of the show is still unclear, but for now it seems to have a stay of execution.