Netflix Subscribers, Say Goodbye to Friends

Iconic sitcom to leave streaming service next year, head to WarnerMedia's HBO Max
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 9, 2019 3:33 PM CDT
Netflix Subscribers, Say Goodbye to Friends
In this Sept. 22, 2002, file photo the cast of television's "Friends", from left: Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox Arquette, Jennifer Aniston, and David Schwimmer appear during the 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.   (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)

So no one told you Netflix was gonna be this way: Friends will no longer be there for subscribers to the streaming service next year. The '90s sitcom will then head to WarnerMedia’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service, HBO Max, set to launch in spring 2020, Variety reports. "The One Where We Have To Say Goodbye," Netflix tweeted after the announcement was made Tuesday. "We’re sorry to see Friends go to Warner's streaming service at the beginning of 2020 (in The US). Thanks for the memories, gang." HBO Max, which will also compete with Hulu, Disney Plus, and other similar services, plans to launch with 10,000 hours of content, but pricing has not yet been disclosed.

Pretty Little Liars will also leave Netflix for HBO Max, and the new streaming service will also include the entire run of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. HBO Max will include content from HBO, Warner Bros., New Line, DC Entertainment, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, The CW, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, and Looney Tunes, plus original content including new movies coming from Greg Berlanti (the producer behind Arrow, The Flash, Riverdale, and others) and Reese Witherspoon. "HBO Max will continue the trend of content owners pulling their shows from third-party streaming platforms for the benefit of their own services," writes Chris Welch at the Verge. "It certainly feels like the golden era of streaming is coming to a close, and in its place we’re about to enter a very fragmented—and expensive—world of entertainment." (Netflix lost The Office in a similar move recently.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X