Gotham Netflix Gets Rights To Gotham Ahead of Premiere Date

[Sawyer]

http://deadline.com/2014/09/gotham-netflix-deal-826991/

Netflix Nabs Rights To New Fox Drama ‘Gotham’ In Precedent-Setting Deal
by Nellie Andreeva

In what is believed to be the first SVOD deal for a broadcast series made before its premiere, Netflix has reached an agreement with Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution for the upcoming Fox drama series Gotham. Under the pact, Netflix will become the exclusive subscription video on demand home of the Warner Bros. TV-produced Batman prequel in the U.S. as well as in each of the territories in which the streaming network operates and select other territories in which it plans to launch services. Each season of the series will be available to Netflix members following their broadcast run. In the U.S. that is expected to be in September 2015, coinciding with the potential Season 2 premiere. Noone is discussing figures, but I hear the deal is worth about $1.75 million an episode.

The unprecedented deal was put in motion shortly after the Gotham pilot had a great reception at the L.A. international screenings in May. I hear Netflix approached WBWTD about a pact that would cover multiple territories. That was a very tricky proposition as WBWTD has different agreements in each country, with the terms of the output deals, including holdback rights against SVOD releases, varying from territory to territory. After laying the groundwork country by country, the two sides have been able to clear the show in all Netflix markets around the world. The pact builds on Warner Bros.’ existing relationship with Netflix, which includes another precedent-setting pact, which covers all CW series. The Gotham deals comes on the heels of Netflix nabbing Sony TV-produced hit NBC drama The Blacklist for $2 million an episode.

Premiering on September 22 on Fox in the US, Gotham draws on the origin story of Batman, taking place in Gotham City as young Detective (and future Commissioner) James Gordon and the recently orphaned Bruce Wayne meet in the troubled days before the arrival of the Dark Knight. The series follows Gordon’s rise from rookie detective to Police Commissioner as he navigates the layers of corruption that secretly rule Gotham City. The cast includes Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, Jada Pinkett Smith and Sean Pertwee. “Gotham is the most anticipated new series of the fall season and we are thrilled to offer it to our members around the world,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer at Netflix. “The Batman origin story is sure to have massive global appeal so it is fitting that, along with Warner Television, we have created a new model for distributing a show that international and domestic audiences will love.”

So this seems like kind of a big deal.

 

[Six]

I wasn't going to watch this because I don't like watching shows on a week to week basis, but I guess now I am going to since I can binge watch it all at once on Netflix. Cool beans

 

[KevanG]

I wasn't going to bother watching it on Fox but since I plan on getting Netflix again soon I might start watching this.

 

[gohei_]

So, when exactly will the episodes be released? Once the season is finished or one episode every week? If it's the former then what is the big deal?

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

So they are going to release the entire season in September 2015?

People will have already watched it by then, the DVD will no doubt be released around that time and the show could be potentially cancelled by next summer anyway.

Yay for Netflix... I guess?

 

[TheNextNolan22]

Seems like they're really confident in the show to be doing this deal ahead of the pilot premiere.

 

[Sawyer]

Exactly, it's a show of good faith, and with that kind of price tag, it could only be a good thing for the show.

Sorry you aren't getting them on Netflix the minute after they air, ya greedy bastards.

 

[Sawyer]

Another factor to add in here is just how competitive the whole streaming video on demand thing is becoming. Everyone seems to take it for granted, saying "Oh, this will be on Netflix, blah blah blah." But that's not always the case now. Hannibal's not going to be on Netflix, because Amazon got those rights. Sleepy Hollow isn't going to be on Netflix because Hulu got that. Netflix just laid down $2 million an episode for The Blacklist. It just shows how much the TV landscape is changing.