Shows Netflix Removed, but shouldn’t have

This is an opinion piece. The following statements regarding the subject title above should be taken lightly.

While everyone is starting the New Year right by making their own New Year’s Resolutions to fulfill throughout the year, Netflix started it in a rather different direction. Friends, the American sitcom that started the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer, was removed from Netflix this year.

The removal of the show was a big issue since last year in the Netflix-verse, with a few even mentioning Netflix on Twitter with a few chosen memes to protest.

There are several factors that our favorite TV shows and movies leave Netflix. According to Netflix:

Whenever a TV show or movie is expiring, we evaluate whether or not to renew it using the same criteria we apply to potential new content” (Netflix.com).

Considering factors such as:

1) Are the rights to renew the licensing to stream still available?
2) What is the popularity and cost of a particular title?
3) Are there other seasonal or localized factors?” (Netflix.com)

For more information regarding why shows and movies leave Netflix, check: https://help.netflix.com/en/node/60541

And so, here is a short list of Netflix shows that were removed from Netflix (not just in 2020), but should have stayed:

1. 1. Friends
2. 
   

• As already mentioned, Friends was removed the beginning of this year. The news of it’s removal was addressed July of last year by Netflix via Twitter:

• The One Where We Have To Say Goodbye.
  We’re sorry to see Friends go to Warner's streaming service at the beginning of 2020 (in The US). Thanks for the memories, gang ☕
  — Netflix US (@netflix) July 9, 2019 " target="_blank">

• The response of a few fans to show their disappointment was of course, through memes:

• I swear to god and everything holy if you get rid of friends and the office you can kiss my $12 a month goodbye. The ball is in your court pic.twitter.com/VU675AD7nA

  — Max (@montana_max29) July 9, 2019 " target="_blank">
  

1. pic.twitter.com/blgKGkgXIm
   — ??? (@crystalsloverr) July 9, 2019 " target="_blank">

2. ? pic.twitter.com/jV7W1oGZ2r

   1. — Mark Taylor (@MarkTaylorNBC4) July 9, 2019 " target="_blank">

1. 
   
2. 2. How I met your mother
3. 
   

• In 2017, HIMYM, the Emmy award winning show, was removed from Netflix since the studio that made HIMYM (20th Century Fox) signed a new distribution deal for the show to Hulu. 
• While Netflix could have kept the show in their platform despite Hulu having it in their platform as well, Netflix’s aim to build a library of exclusive shows that can’t be found in other platforms doesn’t allow it.

• “HIMYM is being taken off of Netflix”
  *Everyone else to Netflix* ... @netflix PLEASE STOP TAKING OFF ICONIC SHOWS pic.twitter.com/KyjmCNr4Ew

  • — Elizabeth Rose (@eliz_beaton) October 24, 2017 " target="_blank">

1. 3. Lost
2. 
   

• Lost was removed from Netflix the beginning of 2018. After the deal with Netflix expired, Disney/ ABC Television made a deal, moving all six seasons of Lost from Netflix to Hulu.
• 
  

1. 4. The Office

• 
  
• Although it’s still on Netflix, the show is leaving the platform at the end of 2020. This was announced June of last year, with NBC deciding to take back the show for its own streaming platform:

• We're sad that NBC has decided to take The Office back for its own streaming platform — but members can binge watch the show to their hearts' content ad-free on Netflix until January 2021

  • — Netflix US (@netflix) June 25, 2019 " target="_blank">

Do you think Netflix should rethink some decisions they have made on removing iconic shows? Comment below to share your insights.