The ‘Suits’ Effect: Netflix Eyes More Licensed Shows Following Success Of USA Network Legal Drama On Streamer

Peter White
·2 min read
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Suits has been a huge success for Netflix since it launched on the streamer, breaking streaming viewership numbers.

The USA Network legal drama spent 12 weeks in the number one spot on the Nielsen streaming charts, beating Ozark’s record.

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Deadline subsequently revealed that creator Aaron Korsh was developing a new offshoot for NBCUniversal (something Netflix pointed to in its own third quarter financials).

Netflix is now looking for more licensed shows that it can acquire and will hopefully have the same effect.

“This legal drama originally premiered on USA Network in 2011 and ran until 2019. Despite having been available on other streaming services, the debut of seasons one to eight on Netflix in July broke viewing records,” it noted in its results.

“Licensing has always been an important part of our programming strategy. As the competitive environment evolves, we may have increased opportunities to license more hit titles to complement our original programming. We believe this will deliver additional value for our members (i.e., engagement), as well as for rights holders who benefit from the increased awareness and revenue that Netflix delivers, in addition to the new life that success on Netflix can drive,” it added.

“We can’t make everything but we can help you find just about anything,” said Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos.

Netflix also highlighted shows such as Friends and The Office, which have been on the streamer in the past.

Suits centers on famous litigator Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) who, impressed by university expellee Mike Ross’s (Patrick J. Adams) photographic memory and skills, brings him to the prestigious law firm he is a partner at.

The series also stars Rick Hoffman, Meghan Markle, Sarah Rafferty and Gina Torres.

The offshoot is expected to be set in the Suits universe series in the vein of the CSI and NCIS franchises featuring new characters in a new location, sources said. Los Angeles is understood to have been considered as a location.

The move comes after Netflix beat Wall Street expectations for earnings per share and subscriber growth in the third quarter and revealed that a new round of price hikes is on the way.

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