Unless they pay more money to have them licensed on their streaming service, it appears Netflix will be losing some of the more popular network television shows over the next few years, which include AMC's hit Breaking Bad.
Despite Breaking Bad and these other shows increasing in popularity because of Netflix, the studios who originally produced them have streaming services of their own now. As a result, they now have the chance to stream their own shows, and it seems like they're going to take that opportunity.
According to The Wrap, shows like Breaking Bad, Community, New Girl, 30 Rock, NCIS, and How to Get Away With Murder are among the shows Netflix could stand to lose over the next few years. They could keep them if they want to pay more money to have the license to stream them, but that remains to be seen now that they have more competing services to bid against. While Breaking Bad's deal with Netflix is set to expire on February 10, 2025, the other shows listed are set to have their licenses with Netflix expire before 2024 ends. Community is set to stream exclusively on Peacock like some of NBC's other popular sitcoms like The Office and Friends, but again, Netflix could pay up to keep licensing it. They could do the same with Breaking Bad and its prequel Better Call Saul, but they will have to pay a lot to keep them around.
The biggest shame of all of this is that Netflix played a huge role in how some of these shows gained the popularity they enjoy now. Breaking Bad is perhaps both the first and best example of this. While Breaking Bad was a well-received show during its heyday, it wasn't a super popular one until it started streaming on Netflix during the early 2010s. By the end of its final season, the Nielsen ratings for the show skyrocketed. Breaking Bad's newfound success came on account of Netflix, which paved the way for the other shows to be put on the service to get more recognition. That also inspired other networks to create their own streaming services in the coming years. Hence, it felt like this day was coming one way or the other.
Sadly, Netflix is being punished for revolutionizing how television watchers consume content. Because the streaming service is an easy form to rip off by other countries, and because it's a highly profitable service, it was only a matter of time before Netflix was bound to lose some of its series. Streaming services, in general, have changed the game as far as watching shows go. People no longer have to DVR their favorite show or even tune in to the channel the show is on when they know one way or another that they can just watch it on the streaming service either right away or months from now.
So don't be surprised if Netflix continues to stream its own content with these shows slated to leave in the next few years. Netflix has done a solid job making its own content with shows like Ozark, Bojack Horseman, and Stranger Things, just to name a few, but not every show they've made has been well-received. With Breaking Bad and other shows from different networks likely to leave the service, the pressure is on to continue making good Netflix originals to replace them. Time will tell if they will be up to the task.
Breaking Bad can currently be streamed on Netflix.
Source: The Wrap