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Netflix to Add More ABC Content to 'Watch Instantly'

 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

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Netflix announced Wednesday that it has expanded its deal with ABC to add shows from ABC Family to its "Watch Instantly" library, as well as more content from ABC network TV and the Disney Channel.

The shows will hit the service in 2011, Netflix said.

The company's streaming lineup will soon include episodes of ABC Family shows like "Greek," "Make it or Break It," "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," and "Melissa and Joey."

For those still scratching their heads at the series finale, Netflix said every episode of "Lost" will soon return to Watch Instantly, as will prior seasons of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives." Meanwhile, "Ugly Betty," "Scrubs," "Brothers & Sisters," and "Reaper" will also be added to the service for the first time.

For the kids, Disney Channel shows "Phineas and Ferb" and "Good Luck Charlie" will make their debut on Netflix streaming. More episodes of "Pair of Kings," "The Suite Life on Deck" and "Wizards of Waverly Place," "Hannah Montana," and "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" will also be available.

Once the deal goes into effect, content will be posted no earlier than 15 days after the initial TV air date. Netflix recently announced a streaming-only option for U.S. users, which lets customers access the "Watch Instantly" library for $7.99 per month without a physical DVD option.

Earlier this month, Netflix also inked a licensing deal with FilmDistrict, which will allow Netflix to show first-run films without having to air on premium cable channels first. This has been a busy year for Netflix's licensing department. The company also announced deals with NBC Universal, Nu Image/Millennium Films, Epix, and Relativity Media. Netflix has said repeatedly that streaming is its future, and that in the coming years, it will shift its focus from DVD shipments to the Web.

One person who won't be around to see that transition is Barry McCarthy, Netflix's chief financial officer. The company announced Tuesday that McCarthy will leave the company December 10, and David Wells will take his place. McCarthy expressed "a desire to pursue broader executive opportunities outside the company," Netflix said. Wells has been with Netflix for seven years and most recently served as vice president of financial planning and analysis.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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