Carsey-Werner is capitalizing on its library of comedy hits from the 1980s and ’90s, such as “Rosanne,” “A Different World” and “That ’70s Show,” as streamers renew sustainable shows.
C-W, an independent studio, with a library packed with brand-name content, is in an enviable position. It also holds rights to “Grace Under Fire,” “Cybill” and “3rd Rock From the Sun.”
In fact, Netflix originally licensed all Casey-Werner comedies in 2012-13, only to drop various titles later.
The popular “That ’70s Show,” which launched Ashton Kutcher’s career, is currently on Netflix — in its last contract year.
“Because Netflix is the incumbent for “That ’70s Show,“ we will give them plenty of opportunity to renew it,” Carsey-Werner president Jim Kraus told Deadline. (It’s expected to land a nine-figure deal.)
Per Nielsen, 131 million episodes were watched on Netflix in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2019.
Two other C-W powerhouses — “Roseanne” and “A Different World” — will finish their contractual run at Amazon Prime next year. But streamer interest in the working-class hit “Roseanne” is high. A new streaming contract will include all nine seasons and the revival 10th season aired on ABC last year.
That doesn’t count “The Connors,” distributed by Carsey-Werner TV Distribution. The company hopes a few more broadcast seasons will neatly position the post-“Rosanne” show for a streaming sale.
Cable TV, and later streaming services, have proven a lucrative home for C-W series — and its sitcom rivals: “Friends” to HBO Max, “Seinfeld” to Netflix and “The Office” to NBC’s Peacock.