Arrested Development isn’t leaving Netflix after all
Arrested Development watch party on Netflix, anyone?
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It seemsArrested Developmentisn’t leaving Netflix after all.
In mid-February, we reported thatArrested Developmentwould be leaving Netflixon Wednesday, March 15. At the time, the world’sbest streaming servicewas set to lose the hugely popular sitcom from its back catalog in territories where it was available. A notice onArrested Development’s Netflix landing page – via a screenshot we obtained in February – confirmed that it would no longer be streamable on the platform after Tuesday, March 14.
However, a last-minute deal appears to have been struck betweenNetflixand numerous other parties to keepArrested Developmenton the service.
As first reported byWhat’s on Netflix, the show’s departure was initially delayed before its removal date was itself removed. When Netflix users search forArrested Developmenton the platform now, the series' landing page doesn’t contain a ‘Last Day to Watch’ warning, meaning subscribers can continue to stream it to their heart’s content.
TechRadar can confirm thatArrested Developmentcontinues to be available to watch on Netflix in the US and UK. We’ve also reached out to Netflix to find out why the series is still streamable on its platform, although the most likely solution is that Netflix renewed its existing licensing agreement to continue offeringArrested Developmenton both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Either way, we’ll update this article if we receive a response.
Developing a streaming service rivalry
Given that it was just days away from losingArrested Developmentfrom its streaming platform, Netflix is sure to be breathing a huge sigh of relief over its retention. Why? Well, because two of its biggest streaming rivals would have benefitted fromArrested Developmentdeparting Netflix’s shores.
In the US,Hulualso has a licensing agreement that enables it to showArrested Developmentseasons 1 through 3 on its service. Recently,Disney Plusconfirmed that it had struck a deal to show the same three seasons onDisney Plus UK. That move came in response to Netflix seemingly being set to loseArrested Developmentfrom its library of content, ensuring British viewers could continue to watch the sitcom.
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With Netflix renewing its licensing deal to beamArrested Developmentinto people’s homes, then, it’ll be fascinating to see which platform fans of the show watch it on. We’re banking on Netflix continuing to be the go-to source for people to watch the show, especially as Netflix is the only place you can stream seasons 4 and 5 – these installments are Netflix Originals, after all.
Even so, there are viewers worldwide who have a Hulu and/or Disney Plus subscription, and not a Netflix one. For those individuals, being able to watchArrested Developmenton these competing platforms will be godsend.
We’ve also reached out to Hulu and Disney to see if they’ll be impacted by Netflix renewing its deal to showArrested Development, and we’ll report back if we receive any responses.
For more streaming coverage, find out what thebest Netflix shows,best Disney Plus shows, andbest Hulu showsare right now.
As TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You’ll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.
An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as thisMoon Knight TV spot.
Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across.
Got a scoop, interesting story, or an intriguing angle on the latest news in entertainment? Feel free to drop him a line.
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