NetFlix to Stream ABC and CBS Shows

LOS GATOS, Calif., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Netflix, Inc.(Nasdaq: NFLX), the world’s leading online movie rental service, todayannounced separate agreements with the CBS Television Network and Disney-ABCTelevision Group that will allow current season episodes of a number oftoday’s most popular TV shows to be streamed at Netflix. The two deals addmeaningfully to a growing library of 12,000 choices that Netflix members canwatch instantly on their PCs and TVs as part of their existing subscriptionplans and without impacting the number of DVDs they receive.
The CBS deal brings to Netflix the global phenomenon “CSI.” Starting inOctober, when it returns for a ninth year, current season episodes of theoriginal “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” can be instantly streamed atNetflix. Beginning this week, current season episodes of the hit spin-offs”CSI: Miami” and “CSI: NY” join the roster. The CBS agreement includes twoadditional current hit shows, “NCIS,” which dramatizes the Naval CriminalInvestigative Service of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, and the FBIdrama “Numb3rs,” from producers Ridley and Tony Scott. “NCIS” returns for itssixth season this week and “Numb3rs” is back for a fifth season in October.

The agreement for Disney Channel content centers on three of the Channel’soriginal series — “Hannah Montana,” “Wizards of Waverly Place,” and DisneyChannel’s newest original series, “The Suite Life on Deck,” a spin-off of thehit, Emmy-nominated “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” starring fan favoritesDylan and Cole Sprouse, Brenda Song and Phill Lewis and introducing DebbieRyan. The series premieres Friday, September 26. “Wizards of Waverly Place”and “The Suite Life on Deck” can be streamed instantly at Netflix beginningthis week, 24 hours after each episode’s initial broadcast. Disney Channel’ssmash hit comedy series “Hannah Montana,” starring multi-talented Miley Cyrus,will be available online at Netflix beginning this November. Brokered byDisney-ABC Domestic Television, the deal represents the first Netflix digitallicense for Disney-ABC Television Group content since Netflix launched theinstant streaming component of its service 18 months ago and is a significantaddition to the company’s lineup of studio and network partners.

“We are thrilled to enter into these relationships with CBS and DisneyChannel and build upon their innovative distribution strategies,” said RobertKyncl, vice president of content acquisition for Netflix. “We have a sharedinterest in granting fans expanded access to and strengthening the networks’key shows.”

The agreements with CBS and Disney Channel also add catalog shows to thelibrary of choices that can be watched instantly at Netflix. Some 500episodes from Disney Channel’s kid-driven, family-inclusive programminglibrary, including previously aired episodes of “The Suite Life of Zack &Cody,” “Wizards of Waverly Place” and “Hannah Montana,” as well as episodes ofthe popular animated series “The Replacements,” “Lilo & Stitch: The Series,””The Emperor’s New School” and many others, will come online to Netflixbeginning in 2009.

Some 350 CBS episodes covered in the deal include prior seasons of thethree “CSI” series and “Numb3rs,” the first two seasons of the popular”Jericho” series and, among others, episodes from TV classics such as “StarTrek,” “MacGyver,” and “Family Ties.” The catalog episodes will come onlinethis fall.

As Netflix continues to expand the online content it offers its members,the company is also partnering with leaders in consumer electronics to bringto market a growing number of network devices that can instantly stream moviesand TV episodes from Netflix directly to subscribers’ TVs. The Netflix Playerby Roku was introduced in May to strong reviews and Netflix has previouslyannounced plans to instantly stream movies and TV episodes via Microsoft’sXbox 360 game console and LG Electronic’s LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Playerstarting this fall.

About Netflix, Inc.

Netflix, Inc. (Nadsaq: NFLX) is the world’s largest online movie rentalservice, with more than eight million subscribers. For one low monthly price,Netflix members can get DVDs delivered to their homes and can instantly watchmovies and TV episodes streamed to their TVs and PCs, all in unlimitedamounts. Members can choose from over 100,000 DVD titles and a growing libraryof more than 12,000 choices that can be watched instantly. There are never anydue dates or late fees. DVDs are delivered free to members by first classmail, with a postage-paid return envelope, from over 50 U.S. shipping centers.More than 95 percent of Netflix members live in areas that generally receiveshipments in one business day. Netflix is also partnering with leadingconsumer electronics companies to offer a range of devices that can instantlystream movies and TV episodes to members’ TVs from Netflix. For moreinformation, visit http://www.netflix.com/.

SOURCE Netflix, Inc.