‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Big Bang’ Mega-Deals Prove Classic TV Sitcoms Could Decide Who Wins in Streaming

As Disney, WarnerMedia and Comcast all prepare to challenge Netflix for its streaming throne, their success or failure could be decided by shows that existed long before anyone knew the phrase “binge-viewing.” Netflix paid handsomely for “Seinfeld,” while WarnerMedia is dipping into its bank account so “Friends” and “The Big Bang Theory” can bolster HBO Max when it debuts next year. NBCU’s newly-named streaming service Peacock is built around reruns of “The Office,” and other classic NBC sitcoms, such as “Parks & Recreation,” “Cheers” and “30 Rock.” These are strategic, savvy moves, according to analysts and entertainment executives who spoke to TheWrap. While original content may be the lure that gets subscribers to bite, streaming services — by next spring, the field will have at least five newcomers — can’t rely only on those subscribers liking every new show. “In streaming, there’s a lot of unknowns,” Devin Griffin, general manager for BET+, the upcoming streaming service from Viacom that launches Thursday, said. Griffin once worked at Netflix, where one of his roles was director of content acquisition. “With any new business, anything that you can leverage that is sort of known, proven and tried and true, is something that you...

Read original story ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Big Bang’ Mega-Deals Prove Classic TV Sitcoms Could Decide Who Wins in Streaming At TheWrap