Netflix May Lose BBC Programming at End of January

It looks increasingly likely that Netflix will be dropping its BBC programming in all world regions after the contract with the broadcaster finishes at the end of this month.

The deal concludes on January 31st and if renewal terms between Netflix and the Beeb can’t be agreed on before then popular telly including Doctor Who, Top Gear and Luther will disappear from the streaming service and top documentaries such as Walking With Dinosaurs will become extinct on Netflix as well.

This loss of content would considerably reduce the size of the Netflix library which currently offers hundreds upon hundreds of hours of much loved BBC content from past and present day which is favoured by paying subscribers across the globe.

Since this news broke it has caused outrage across the net and there’s even an online petition to save Doctor Who and the other shows under threat from being wiped out from Netflix. Of course good intentions alone won’t carry much weight if a financial deal can’t be worked out.

Currently Netflix seems to be quite happily focused on developing and broadcasting its own original programming including the highly acclaimed House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. Add to that From Dusk Till Dawn, Hemlock Grove and the upcoming Daredevil – part of a big five series deal struck last year with Marvel and Disney – and there are still quite a lot of reasons to stay onboard with Netflix.

Also See: Marvel & Netflix Team-Up For Five Exclusive Series Including Daredevil

Amazon Prime may soon become the place to be for access to the Beeb’s back catalogue if Netflix lets it slip. The online department store’s on-demand video service currently offers favourites and modern classics such as Ripper Street to subscription and non-subscription streamers and seems to have a partnership deal with the BBC locked down for the foreseeable future.