Friends is leaving Netflix for HBO Max


When it comes to retaining the streaming rights to classic sitcoms, it hasn't been Netflix's day, their week, their month, or even their year.
WarnerMedia on Tuesday announced that Friends in 2020 will become an exclusive to its new streaming service, which has just been named HBO Max, The Hollywood Reporter writes. This confirms that the series is officially being pulled off of Netflix after this year.
Netflix came close to losing Friends last year, but it paid around $100 million to keep streaming the series just until the end of 2019. Many speculated that Friends would leave the platform after that point, but the new deal with WarnerMedia was non-exclusive, and there initially remained the possibility that the show could be made available both on Netflix and on the WarnerMedia streaming service in 2020. Now, however, we know that won't be the case.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
On Twitter, Netflix once again informed subscribers about the impending loss of a wildly popular show, writing that they're "sorry" to see Friends leave next year.
Less than two weeks ago, it was announced that Netflix is also set to lose The Office, which is headed to a new streaming service from NBCUniversal. Those streaming rights reportedly cost NBCUniversal about $500 million, and similarly, the Reporter writes that WarnerMedia paid $425 million in a five-year deal for Friends. They can only hope that this investment will be worth it and that subscribers will be there for them when HBO Max launches in spring 2020.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect