(KMOX/AP) - Netflix is celebrating on Twitter after officially acquiring the online streaming rights to all 180 episodes of "Seinfeld."
The streaming service says the popular 1990s sitcom will be available for all users in the U.S. and around the world in 2021.
Jerry &Elaine &George &Kramer &NetflixAll 180 episodes of the Emmy-Award winning Seinfeld are coming to Netflix — worldwide! — starting in 2021 pic.twitter.com/tLvcCKH4vl
— Netflix US (@netflix)
September 16, 2019 According to the LA Times, Netflix paid well above the speculated $500 million NBCUniversal paid to retake "The Office," and the reported $150 million per year Hulu parent Walt Disney Co. currently pays for "Seinfeld." Both of those deals are for U.S. streaming only — Netflix has bought the global rights to show "Seinfeld."
"Seinfeld is the television comedy that all television comedy is measured against," Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said in a statement.
Netflix noted it is still focused on producing its own shows — but it can't ignore the demand for rewatching old hit hits. The company spent $12 billion on original and non-original programming last year.
Jerry Seinfeld's show "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" and his standup special "Jerry Before Seinfeld" are already distributed by Netflix.
For now, "Seinfeld" is still available on Hulu, but that five-year deal will expire in 2021.
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