If you've been sticking with Netflix as your main venue for watching The Office, then you're sure to be disappointed to learn that the series will be departing Netflix for NBCUniversal's upcoming streaming service…in January 2021. Damn, you'll probably only be able to binge the series a dozen more times until they take it off.
NBCUniversal announced today that they've snagged the exclusive domestic streaming rights to all nine seasons of The Office for a five-year term. "The Office has become a staple of pop-culture and is a rare gem whose relevance continues to grow at a time when fans have more entertainment choices than ever before," said Bonnie Hammer, Chairman of NBCUniversal Direct-to-Consumer and Digital Enterprises. "We can’t wait to welcome the gang from Dunder Mifflin to NBCUniversal’s new streaming service." It's not known exactly when NBC's as-yet-unnamed streaming service will launch, but it's expected to land mid-2020 and will be free to the company's pay-TV subscribers as it will be supported by advertising. During NBCUniversal's upfront presentation last month, Chairman of Advertising & Client Partnerships' Linda Yaccarino said, "Next year we’re going to unveil the largest initiative in our company’s history: We’re going to have our own ad-supported platform. While other companies are pushing advertisers out, we’re bringing them in. It will have a slate of originals and a gigantic library of all favorites. The shows that people love the most and stream the most are coming home at a price that every person can afford: free." Netflix responded via Twitter:
The Office is one of the most popular programs on Netflix, so losing the series will likely be a bit of a blow. Another casualty of the streaming wars.