David Farnor | On 24, May 2014

The IT Crowd, Peep Show and other Channel 4 shows are back on Netflix UK again.

The word “again” being the operative word.

Yes, after doing the Hokey Cokey all year, Channel 4 and Netflix have put their left legs in again. Their left legs being some of the broadcaster’s best shows, from Graham Linehan’s The IT Crowd and Father Ted to Peep Show.

Nine programmes have returned to the streaming service’s line-up after three times as many were removed in March. 27 programmes, ranging from Green Wing and Made in Chelsea to Skins and Shameless, expired on Netflix on 15th March, exactly one month after they were previously taken down – only for their licences to be renewed three days later.

At the time, a spokesperson for Channel 4 told us: “[Channel 4’s] VoD content has been part of Netflix since its very first day in the UK over two years ago – and we’ve had a line-up of Channel 4 shows on Amazon for some time now. We value our partnerships with both Netflix and Amazon and have on-going discussions about the make-up of our content showcase on the platforms.”

It seemed that Channel 4 was removing content on other sites to direct people towards its own 4oD platform, which is currently undergoing a “revolutionary” upgrade, as part of the broadcaster’s plans to drive up its digital revenue and improve its targeted advertising. Two programmes were never earmarked for removal: Drop the Dead Donkey and Black Books. They have remained in Netflix’s catalogue throughout the dance. Now, though, Channel 4 has agreed a new deal with Netflix for the following titles:

Cutting Edge: Cocaine
Father Ted
Fresh Meat
Friday Night Dinner
Misfits
Skins
The Inbetweeners
Peep Show
The IT Crowd

Are these the most popular titles, deemed valuable enough to share on other streaming platforms? The biggest outcry on Twitter certainly seemed to be directed towards the absence of The IT Crowd and Father Ted, while Peep Show and Father Ted have a high re-watchability factor, perhaps more so than, say, Hugh’s Chicken Run or Made in Chelsea. Will the other shows that left two months ago also make a return? With licence expiries and renewals happening every week in the streaming VOD market, Netflix – and Channel 4 – continue to do the Hokey Cokey. And that’s what it’s all about.

Channel 4 shows removed from Netflix on 15th March 2014

Anatomy for Beginners
Beaver Falls
Big Fat Gypsy Weddings
Campus
Cutting Edge: Katie: My Beautiful Friends
Cutting Edge: My Big Fat Royal Gypsy Wedding
Da Ali G Show
Derren Brown: Enigma
Green Wing
Heston’s Fishy Feasts
Hugh’s Chicken Run
Made in Chelsea
Pete Versus Life
Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares
Shameless
Sirens

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