Netflix Gains Exclusive SVOD Rights To ‘Gotham’

Netflix and Warner Bros. announced an agreement that will make Netflix the exclusive subscription VOD home of the upcoming television series Gotham, which is set to debut on FOX on September 22nd. Net...
Netflix Gains Exclusive SVOD Rights To ‘Gotham’
Written by Chris Crum
  • Netflix and Warner Bros. announced an agreement that will make Netflix the exclusive subscription VOD home of the upcoming television series Gotham, which is set to debut on FOX on September 22nd.

    Netflix will get each season of the series following its linear broadcast, starting next year.

    If you’re unfamiliar with the show’s premise, here’s how it’s described in the announcement:

    The series 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. With a stellar cast including Ben McKenzie (Southland, The O.C.), Donal Logue (Sons of Anarchy, Vikings, Terriers), Jada Pinkett Smith (The Matrix Reloaded, Ali, Collateral, HawthoRNe) and Sean Pertwee (The Musketeers, Elementary, Luther, The Tudors), 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 action-packed series draws on the stories of the great DC Comics “Super-Villains and Vigilantes,” revealing an entirely new chapter that has never been told. The one-hour drama follows one cop’s rise through a dangerously corrupt city teetering on the edge of evil and chronicles the genesis of one of the most popular superheroes of our time.

    Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Netflix is likely paying a hefty sum. They’re reportedly paying $2 million per episode to get NBC drama The Blacklist, though that show has already established itself as a hit.

    Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos explains the company’s thought process: “Gotham is the most anticipated new series of the fall season and we are thrilled to offer it to our members around the world. 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.”

    “In this era of new business models and expanding windows, this is an unprecedented deal for our company and our industry,” adds Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution. “While we typically license our programming country by country, we have licensed this very special series to Netflix on a multi-territory basis. Netflix is a perfect home for Gotham following its initial broadcast in each respective country, giving Netflix subscribers the opportunity to catch-up prior to the new season, whether they’re already fans or discovering it for the first time.”

    On Tuesday, Netflix announced that it’s bringing back Hemlock Grove for one more season.

    Image via YouTube

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