HBO Max & Netflix Logo
Another week and another streaming service has surfaced to take on Netflix. This time, it’s Warner Media turn who are piling in their resources into HBO Max. Here’s an in-depth look at all of their properties and what Netflix could lose from its content library.
One thing that you should take into account before we start is the different stance Warner Brothers and AT&T has as opposed to Disney recently. Whereas Disney wanted 100% control over all their properties and that even includes title they produce for others, Warner Brothers are far less fussy. That’s why it continues to sell its content to Netflix whether that’s like the recent example as The Sandman or continuing to produce the myriad of other Netflix Original titles.
Disney has been far more hostile (something which may bite them in the long run potentially) by wanting or already having taken back most to all of their content ready for Disney+.
Now let’s take a look at all the properties owned by Warner Brothers and see what’s leaving and what’s staying (albeit temporarily).
HBO Content
Let’s start with the easiest one. HBO content whether that be the likes of Game of Thrones, Westworld, Big Little Lies, The Sopranos, Chernobyl aren’t and haven’t ever been on Netflix.
Nothing lost here.
Warner TV Properties
Now let’s start with the biggest Warner Media show leaving and the one that most people are getting into a hoo-hah about.
Friends will be the most notable departure for Netflix. It began streaming on Netflix way back in 2015 and will be departing 5 years later on January 1st, 2020. Friends is a Warner Brothers show it sold to NBC.
Friends is leaving Netflix
Pretty Little Liars is actually the first WB title to leave Netflix (at least since the HBO Max announcement) and originally aired on Freeform. It was included in the HBO Max trailer so that as well as its new spin-off won’t be on Netflix.
Here’s a list of other titles Netflix currently carries which is produced by Warner Brothers but none of these were featured in the sizzle reel implying they’re not leaving:
- The West Wing
- Shameless (US)
- Gossip Girl
- Gotham
We also saw The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air featured in the sizzle reel but that’s never been on Netflix in the US so nothing changes here.
TruTV
Up until late 2018, Netflix didn’t carry any TruTV content but now it carries a selection of compilation series. We don’t know if they’re coming off but to be safe, here’s the full list:
- Adam Ruins Everything
- The Carbonaro effect
- Impractical Jokers (seen in sizzle reel)
- I’m Sorry
CNN
What role CNN will play on HBO Max is yet to be seen. Netflix only carries a small collection of titles from the news network with the biggest undoubtedly being Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown.
Here’s what could be leaving from CNN:
- Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (Seasons 7 to 11 on Netflix right now)
- Christiane Amanpour: Sex & Love Around the World
- The 2000s, The Eighties, The Nineties, The Seventies
The CW
Netflix and The CW have a long history of working together but that came to a semi-close earlier in 2019.
We’ve run through the details of the contract several times so in short, here’s where we’re at.
All existing shows from The CW on Netflix up until Into the Dark will continue to get updates on Netflix until the show finishes. Roughly three years after the show finishes, only then will it leave Netflix.
All new shows are going to be shopped individually although Katy Keene and Batwoman will be on HBO Max.
Warner Brothers Netflix Productions
Some of Netflix’s biggest shows are produced by Warner Brothers. Although these may eventually leave Netflix, we’re talking multiple years down the line. Here’s all the shows Warner Brothers have had a hand in creating for Netflix:
- Longmire
- Fuller House
- Disjointed
- You
- Lucifer
- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
- Thee Kominsky Method
- Special
- Bruno
- What/If
Warner Brothers Movie Library
Warner Brothers extensive movie library will also be filling up HBO Max in due course. While we’re not going to run through all of Warners movie library (we’d be here all day) we’ll touch on the ones featured in the video.
What’s unlikely is that Netflix won’t continue to get some of the older Warner Brothers movies. Instead, we’ll see big franchises held back for the streaming service.
Some of the titles featured in the sizzle reel included:
- Lord of the Rings (first movie streamed on Netflix last year and Amazon is making the series)
- A Star is Born (way too early to release at Netflix at the moment)
- Godzilla (Netflix has the animes but not any of the WB action movies)
- DC Movies (rarely come to Netflix in the US, will stay that way)
- Gremlins (is currently on Netflix as of publishing)
Also worth noting that Netflix has been distributing some of Warner Brothers movies abroad as of late. Shaft and Isn’t It Romantic being two recent examples.
TNT, TBS, Adult Swim, Boomerang and Cartoon Network
Adult Swim and Cartoon Network did appear on Netflix at one point but was all pulled in 2016.
TNT and TBS content has never made its way onto Netflix.
There’s the current standing of Warner Brothers content on Netflix that stands to leave. What do you think? Is this a crushing blow to Netflix? Let us know in the comments.
