YouTube’s successful “Cobra Kai,” now heading into season three, is looking for a new streaming home.
When YouTube nixed a fourth season, partner Sony Pictures TV decided to shop the show to other streamers. A spinoff from the “Karate Kid” movies, “Cobra Kai” begins decades after the initial film run.
The show clicked with viewers — it was the sixth-most Google-searched TV show in 2018.
Which means, with a built-in fan base, it will be an asset to whichever platform picks it up. The streamer will also get nonexclusive access to the first two seasons. The assumption is it will pick up season three from YouTube, then begin season four.
Deadline believes the field of contenders has narrowed to Hulu and Netflix.
Part of the reason for the shift is YouTube’s long-term strategy: It has moved away from original scripted programming in favor of unscripted shows. YouTube gave a head’s up to its partner, Sony TV, which got permission to shop “Cobra Kai,” hopefully, leading to future seasons at a new home.
In addition, the shutdown in production has fueled interest in acquiring current successes.
“Cobra Kai” is written and executive produced by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. Hurwitz and Schlossberg wrote and directed the “Harold and Kumar” films.