Streaming giant Netflix said Monday it had acquired the global rights to popular American sitcom Seinfeld from 2021—a feather in its cap as the battle among online video platforms for coveted content heats up.
The company did not reveal the value of the transaction.
But the move was a bit of a rebound for Netflix, which has lost the rights to Friends from next year and to the American version of The Office from 2021 — the two most-watched series it has on offer.
The digital broadcast rights to Seinfeld have been held by Hulu, a Disney subsidiary, since 2015. NBCUniversal paid $500 million over five years to get The Office, and WarnerMedia shelled out $425 million, also over five years, to acquire Friends for its new HBO Max platform.
Classic television series have become a hot commodity in the escalating battle for streaming supremacy.
The current major players like Netflix and Amazon are keeping an eye on Apple and Disney, which will launch later this year, and then NBCUniversal and WarnerMedia in 2020.
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Rod Stewart reveals prostate cancer fight
British pop veteran Rod Stewart has been given the all-clear after battling prostate cancer, the music stalwart has revealed.
The 74-year-old, who released his 30th studio album last year, told the audience at a weekend prostate charity fundraiser that he was diagnosed two years ago.
The raspy-voiced singer said he received positive news about remission in July following treatment, according to Britain’s Daily Mirror.
“Two years ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer,” Stewart told the audience at the event in Surrey, southwest of London, it reported.
“No one knows this, but I thought this was about time I told everybody. I’m in the clear, now, simply because I caught it early. I have so many tests,” he added.
The father-of-eight, who appeared at the event with former Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood—who was previously diagnosed with lung cancer—urged men to have their prostates checked regularly.
