ABC and Warner Bros. Sign Stacking Deal for Upcoming Series

Deal allows network to offer all episodes of a current season on SVOD rather than just the five most recent

Ben Higgins The Bachelor
ABC

ABC and Warner Bros. have signed a stacking-rights deal that will allow the network to offer full seasons of new shows produced by the studio on online streaming services.

The deal, which applies to shows debuting in the next two seasons, grants the network streaming and on-demand rights to all episodes of new shows, as opposed to the current practice of the studio limiting ABC to the five most recent episodes. That means viewers watching online who want to jump back to the beginning of a season will be able to binge the whole lineup, no matter how far into the season they start.

Warner Bros. will retain end-of-season rights for subscription video-on-demand services like Netflix and early syndication rights, as well as rights for day-after digital downloads and early DVD rights.

Among the pilots currently in development that could be affected by the deal if they are picked up to series are “Time After Time” from Kevin Williamson and the family comedy “Dream Team” from the “Will & Grace” duo of Kari Lizer and Bill Wrubel.

“This is a real win for network television viewers,” said Jana Winograde, executive vice president, Business Operations, ABC Entertainment in a statement.  “Giving our audience even more opportunities to catch up on their favorite shows in their entirety, on demand, only enhances their loyalty to and engagement with ABC and our series.”

“Along with our partners at ABC, we’re pleased to offer viewers the convenience to discover and watch our shows on their own schedule and on the screen they choose,” said Craig Hunegs, president, Business and Strategy, Warner Bros. Television Group. “For our studio, the more people watch our shows, the more valuable they become for us over the long run.”

Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

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