Further highlighting a renewed interest in TV programming, Netflix announced two big shows for subscribers this week. And they couldn't be more different. "The Wonder Years" and "Borgia: Faith and Fear" are now available exclusively for instant streaming customers.
"Amid all the great shows and new seasons that launched on Netflix in the last couple of days, there was one I was so excited about that I felt compelled to share it with anyone who would listen," wrote Heather McCauley, senior counsel, content acquisition at the company's official blog. "I am happy to share that all six seasons of The Wonder Years are now available to watch instantly for the first time."
The popular, award-winning ABC series starring Fred Savage and Danica McKellar dramatized suburban American adolescence during the tumultuous years of the Vietnam War. The show ran from 1988 to 1993.
The second addition, "Borgia: Faith and Fear," makes its North American debut via Netflix, said Elizabeth Bradley, director of content acquisition.
Not to be mistaken with that other show about the power-mad 15th century Italian family, "Faith and Fear" is a competing production made in Europe. Showtime, the network that produces and airs the American version, said in March that it was pulling all original programming from Netflix.
The announcement follows remarks from Ted Sarandos, chief content officer at Netflix, about the streaming giant's new global content acquisition efforts and belief that quality programming can succeed beyond its original market.
Netflix has recently ramped up rhetoric about quality TV content even as its streaming movie library is set to suffer. The company will lose all Starz support in February after contract renewal talks failed last month. (via The Netflix Blog)
