It’s being called the biggest SVOD deal for a TV series ever: $2 million an episode for NBC’s breakout hit The Blacklist.
The buyer? Netflix.
According to Deadline, Sony Pictures TV still has the right to sell the show in cable and broadcast syndication, but Netflix is getting a first window.
Streaming of the first season is set to start as early as next weekend.
Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva writes that the series is a rare breed that would work on a variety of platforms:
“The Blacklist, in which NBC has minority ownership, is a successful, syndicatable broadcast procedural drama, which has been a rare breed during the past five years as the networks have gravitated toward more serialized fare. But it also features a serialized main storyline, making it attractive for streaming services like Netflix. (Blacklist also set a string of DVR records, and time shifted viewing is at the core of online streaming.)”
Other Sony properties that have benefitted from early Netflix deals include Breaking Bad—which arguably only found a mass audience thanks to the streaming service.
The Blacklist remains the cornerstone of NBC’s fall schedule. The network is mounting a huge marketing campaign ahead of its second season bow, complete with mock magazine, covers, murals, and of course, billboards.
Read More: Deadline
Brief Take: The sky-high price tag for the first season of The Blacklist demonstrates the power now wielded by content owners as they negotiate with digital and streaming providers who need to offer the best libraries to maintain their customer base.
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