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New Netflix, NBCUniversal deal announced; extra $6 a month buys some old eps of The Event

In case you were wondering what the updated rates are buying, Netflix's first step in making its case for your $7.99 a month in streaming fees appears to be a renewal of its content deal with NBCUniversal. The new deal secures availability of previous seasons of popular shows including 30 Rock, The Office, Psych and other selections we've gotten used to seeing on the service for the next couple of years. There is one notable loss however, as the LA Times points out an arrangement that brought new episodes of Saturday Night Live to the service the day after they aired has come to an end. Rumors had swirled that Netflix could revive The Event after its cancellation by NBC, but while existing episodes will be available there's nothing mentioned about putting it next to the streamer's own House of Cards. Given Comcast (and now NBCU) leader Brian Robert's reference to Netflix as the rerun TV and Netflix CEO Reed Hastings' embracing of the term this deal isn't surprising, but our only question is whether it is enough to keep current subscribers around.

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NBCUniversal and Netflix Renew Multi-Year TV and Film Content Agreement
Non-Exclusive Deal Includes Library Film and Television Content New To Netflix
NEW YORK and LOS GATOS, Calif., July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) and NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution today announced a multi-year renewal of their licensing agreement expanding the selection of non-exclusive NBCU film and TV library titles available to watch instantly streaming from Netflix.


Programming under the deal includes prior-season series across multiple NBCU networks, including NBC hits "The Office," "30 Rock" and "Parenthood." All future seasons of these shows will be available on Netflix on a one season delay basis. Under the deal, Netflix members will also be able to enjoy prior season episodes of "Law and Order: SVU" and "The Event."

Also available to watch instantly streaming from Netflix will be shows from NBC Universal's cable networks including prior season episodes of "Warehouse 13," "Psych," "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" and "Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane"; classic television series such as "Leave it to Beaver," "Adam 12" and "Crossing Jordan"; and such great Universal Pictures movies as "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "The Motorcycle Diaries."

"This agreement demonstrates our commitment to providing NBCUniversal's high-quality content to consumers on a variety of platforms," said Frances Manfredi, Executive Vice President and General Sales Manager, NBCUniversal Domestic TV Distribution. "We are very pleased that Netflix recognizes the increasing value of NBCUniversal's extensive content offerings for their subscribers."

"Our relationship with NBC Universal has been, and continues to be, mutually beneficial and has led to regular expansions of programming for our subscribers," said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer. "This latest deal includes more episodes of more shows from more NBCU owned channels than ever before. From "30 Rock" to the "Kardashians," there is something for everyone to enjoy."

About NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution:

The NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution division is responsible for the sale of NBCUniversal product to all forms of television within the U.S. and Canada. This includes current television and film product as well as content from NBCUniversal's vast library (Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Universal Media Studios, Universal Cable Productions, NBC Late Night properties) in broadcast, basic cable, pay cable and subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) markets. Additionally, the division produces and distributes first-run programs to those platforms.

Current off-network cable distribution programming includes "30 Rock," "Saturday Night Live," "House," "The Office," "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," as well as Universal Pictures film content. Current broadcast syndicated content includes the off-network content listed above, as well as "Monk," and "The Real Housewives" franchise, in addition to first-run programming including "Access Hollywood," "Access Hollywood Live," "The Jerry Springer Show," "Maury," "The Steve Wilkos Show," "The Chris Matthews Show" and "The Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo."

About Netflix:

With more than 23 million members in the United States and Canada, Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] is the world's leading Internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows. For US$7.99 a month, Netflix members in the U.S. and Canada instantly watch unlimited movies and TV episodes streamed over the Internet to PCs, Macs and TVs. Among the large and expanding base of devices streaming from Netflix are Microsoft's Xbox 360, Nintendo's Wii and Sony's PS3 consoles; an array of Blu-ray disc players, Internet-connected TVs, home theater systems, digital video recorders and Internet video players; Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, as well as Apple TV and Google TV. In all, more than 200 devices that stream from Netflix are available in the U.S. and a growing number are available in Canada.

SOURCE Netflix, Inc.