Why does Netflix and Hulu only have some seasons of some shows?

[glennstl]

Also, Amazon Prime.

I’m wondering why none of them have Twilight Zone season 4, yet they all have seasons 1,2,3,5.

Same for Night Gallery ( you can tell I’m a big Rod Serling and classic sci-fi fan). Hulu randomly has seasons 2 and 3 ( only 3 seasons were made)... yet they are missing season 1.

Is it some reason to try to get people to buy the physical media? Or might it be some weird kind of right’s issue? Or something else?

[Michael24]

That and why for some shows they'll have all the seasons but each season is missing some episodes. Over a year ago, I streamed all five seasons of The A-Team on Netflix but each season was missing anywhere from 3-6 episodes and for the final season they only had about half of the episodes.

[glennstl]

Originally Posted by Michael24

That and why for some shows they'll have all the seasons but each season is missing some episodes. Over a year ago, I streamed all five seasons of The A-Team on Netflix but each season was missing anywhere from 3-6 episodes and for the final season they only had about half of the episodes.

Good point.

I also noticed this on Netflix, with Quantum Leap randomly missing some episodes.

[ben6543]

Or Why Hulu Has Full House yet Netflix has and makes the sequel show Fuller House

[kevin87]

Originally Posted by ben6543

Or Why Hulu Has Full House yet Netflix has and makes the sequel show Fuller House

I'd assume this was because Hulu acquired the WB-owned TGIF shows (Family Matters, Full House, Perfect Strangers, and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, and Step by Step) so they could possibly have came as a bundle and not show-by-show. While it might be a sequel, Full House and Fuller House are two different licenses... even though you'd think Netflix would have gotten Full House so people could binge it before Fuller House started. Same could be said for Hulu only having Boy Meets World, but Netflix only having Girl Meets World.

[ben6543]

Originally Posted by kevin87

I'd assume this was because Hulu acquired the WB-owned TGIF shows (Family Matters, Full House, Perfect Strangers, and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, and Step by Step) so they could possibly have came as a bundle and not show-by-show. While it might be a sequel, Full House and Fuller House are two different licenses... even though you'd think Netflix would have gotten Full House so people could binge it before Fuller House started. Same could be said for Hulu only having Boy Meets World, but Netflix only having Girl Meets World.

I hate that Hulu has the whole TGIF Lineup share some of that Pie with Netflix.

[Ray_Rogers]

OG Netflix has a ton of discs for the seasons for the TV shows. Don't know for the Streaming side. OG Netflix still have Futurama and Scrubs to rent.

[ZoetMB]

Rights are extremely complicated. (I was involved in developing enterprise applications that manage rights).

Sometimes, rights are given exclusively. Sometimes, there's a legal dispute (some actor sues because his contract didn't include home video rights) so it holds up an episode or a season. Sometimes, an episode or season doesn't appear simply because the lawyers haven't completed analyzing all the ramifications and risks of licensing. Sometimes there are backend participations (royalties) that must be paid if the episode or season is licensed and a financial analysis proves that it won't be profitable. In other cases, there might be underlying rights (music, a piece of artwork on the set) that can't be cleared, which is why music was removed or changed from some home video releases of shows like "Crime Story" and "WKRP in Cincinnati", although much music was restored to the latter in the most recent release. The reasons are endless.

You'd think there'd be an industry push to make contracts simpler, but in my experience and especially because of the different ways media is consumed today, it's only gotten more complicated. And remember, there are almost always two deals for every asset: a rights-in deal where you obtain the rights (say a studio making a deal with a production company to create the content) and a rights-out deal, where you license out the rights. And then are a zillion sub-contracts, like a contract with each actor. If the original production was a union shoot, the contracts have to follow the union agreements. And any subcontract can limit usage of the entire show because the most restrictive right in any deal takes precedence. One of the complications of the Guild agreements is that you have to use the agreement that coincides with the original production year of the content. So if it was TV show made in 1994, you have to use the Guild contract in force then, not the one for 2018.

Etc.

[thecalm_7]

^^^
Rights and exclusivity deals.
Futurama was on Netflix, last time I checked it’s only the last 4 seasons and movies. I received an email from Hulu welcoming Futurama in its entirety. It’s deals like that and bundles.
South Park- was on both, now exclusive to Hulu with next day airing and uncensored language where available. That was a big deal at the time got emails from Hulu, Comedy Central, and South Park.
ER just got streaming rights and Hulu exclusive deal because George Clooney is working on Catch-22 series for them. At least that’s the way articles are making it sound.

Missing episodes is often about royalties of actors (often guest appearances) and music. Music royalties are the reason numerous movies are no longer getting put out in newer formats. House M.D. appears in America with music by Massive Attack. International releases lose the song due to rights limitations.

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by thecalm_7

^^^
Rights and exclusivity deals.
Futurama was on Netflix, last time I checked it’s only the last 4 seasons and movies. I received an email from Hulu welcoming Futurama in its entirety. It’s deals like that and bundles.
South Park- was on both, now exclusive to Hulu with next day airing and uncensored language where available. That was a big deal at the time got emails from Hulu, Comedy Central, and South Park.
ER just got streaming rights and Hulu exclusive deal because George Clooney is working on Catch-22 series for them. At least that’s the way articles are making it sound.

Missing episodes is often about royalties of actors (often guest appearances) and music. Music royalties are the reason numerous movies are no longer getting put out in newer formats. House M.D. appears in America with music by Massive Attack. International releases lose the song due to rights limitations.

Netflix does have all of Futurama, not from the Streaming service of course.

[Blu-Benny]

figured I'd ask this question in here.

does anyone have any experience w/hulu and their live tv option??

I've been doing some reading and it says in addition to live tv, you get access to on-demand programming.

was wondering if that meant it would unlock all seasons for certain shows?? we don't have cable or satellite at all, but I know at my parents house, w/their cable programming, you can watch old seasons of shows "on-demand."

hulu just added a couple of shows from history that I enjoy but they only have the 1st season and then like seasons 6 & 7 or something.

figured I can always sign up for a week trial w/my wife's email and find out for myself too.

[Naiera]

Hulu Live doesn't add anything to their on-demand catalogue.

What are these shows with missing seasons? The only recent example I can think of is Danish Netflix having just season 2 of Man Seeking Woman.

[Blu-Benny]

Originally Posted by Naiera

Hulu Live doesn't add anything to their on-demand catalogue.

What are these shows with missing seasons? The only recent example I can think of is Danish Netflix having just season 2 of Man Seeking Woman.

thanks. I didn't know if the live option unlocked the individual channels on demand option or not.

ones I we watch that are missing seasons:

Swamp People
Counting Cars
American Pickers
Gold Rush

I'm almost positive even Survivor is missing seasons yet they have the majority of them.

[Naiera]

OK, so worthless "reality" shows then

If you're looking for a good live TV option, YouTube TV is better than Hulu Live. If you like what regular ol' Hulu has, that's $11.99 with no commercials.