WarnerMedia’s HBO Max has landed the exclusive streaming rights for the long-running Warner Bros. sitcom “The Big Bang Theory,” the company said on Tuesday. The modern-classic sitcom, which ended its 12-season run this spring, will also continue its syndication deal on sister cable network TBS through 2028.
“Big Bang” will be available on HBO Max for its spring 2020 launch. Financial details about the deal were not disclosed, but an individual with knowledge of the deal indicated that the streaming rights alone were worth more than the $500 million that Comcast paid to secure rights to “The Office” from Netflix.
“Few shows define a generation and capture mainstream zeitgeist like ‘The Big Bang Theory,’” said Bob Greenblatt, chairman, WarnerMedia entertainment and direct-to-consumer. “We’re thrilled that HBO Max will be the exclusive streaming home for this comedy juggernaut when we launch in the spring of 2020. This show has been a hit virtually around the globe, it’s one of the biggest shows on broadcast television of the last decade, and the fact that we get to bring it to a streaming platform for the first time in the U.S. is a coup for our new offering.”
“Big Bang” will join Warner Bros.-produced “Friends” on HBO Max following a long streaming run on rival Netflix. On Monday, Netflix secured streaming rights to Sony Pictures TV’s “Seinfeld” as the competition for familiar TV content heats up. Netflix also is bracing to lose the streaming rights to “The Office,” which will go to Comcast’s new streaming service next year.
“I am forever grateful to have been part of something as extraordinary as ‘The Big Bang Theory,’” said co-creator/executive producer Chuck Lorre. “All of us, — Bill Prady, Steven Molaro, Steve Holland, and the amazing writing staff, cast and crew, recognize that 12 seasons of laughter is a gift to be cherished. And now we are extremely excited that ‘TBBT’ will be joining the HBO Max lineup and be available to both existing and future fans of the show. Laughter has legs!”
“It’s not every day you get to extend the run of a cultural phenomenon that reaches nearly 35 million viewers on TBS alone every month,” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer, HBO Max and president, TBS, TNT and truTV. “Through HBO Max and TBS, fans will have access to this beloved comedy for generations to come.”
“The Big Bang Theory,” created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, premiered on CBS in September 2007 and then ran for 227 episodes to become the longest running multi-camera comedy series in U.S. TV history. The series received 55 Emmy nominations and 10 wins, including five for star Jim Parsons, and seven Golden Globe nominations.
In addition to Parsons, the show starred Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch.