Netflix & Paramount Extend ‘Seinfeld’ Licensing Deals

It’s not everyday you see executives of the caliber of Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos and Paramount TV Media Chair George Cheeks give quotes for licensing deal extensions on a 37-year-old show. Then, Seinfeld is not just any show.

Series distributor Sony Pictures Television has renewed its licensing agreements with Netflix and Paramount. Netflix will continue as the global SVOD home for all 180 episodes for the next five years, exclusively in the U.S. and Canada, while Paramount has extended its exclusive basic cable rights in the U.S. for three years across Comedy Central, TV Land and other Paramount cable networks.

The renewals come as Netflix’s and then-Viacom’s original five-year deals for Seinfeld were about to expire on Oct. 1. Both come with changes in the original terms.

Netflix’s original pact was exclusive globally. While Seinfeld will continue to be on the platform around the world, it will only be exclusive in U.S. and Canada. Very New York-focused by design, the sitcom created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David has always had outsized popularity in the U.S. vs the rest of the world.

In 2019, Netflix stepped up to nab Seinfeld rights after losing two other popular NBC comedy series, Friends and The Office, which had become among the streamer’s top draws before their studios, Warner Bros. and NBCUniversal, respectively, held them back to jump-start their own streaming platforms, HBO Max and Peacock.

The original Netflix five-year deal for Seinfeld, done in a frothy streaming rights market, was estimated to be in the $500 million range. The price tag on the new pact is said to be lower, but Sony TV also has non-exclusive international streaming rights it can monetize.

Citing Nielsen reach data, Sony says that nearly 60 million Americans — approximately 20% of the U.S. population — watched at least one minute of Seinfeld during the first half of 2026.

On Netflix’s most recent What We Watched semi-annual report, the comedy’s eight seasons each averaged between 3M (Season 1) and 3.5 (Season 6) globally from January – June 2026.

“The show famously about nothing is in fact, everything, and we’re proud to be the streaming home of Seinfeld, one of the greatest comedies in the history of TV,” said Sarandos, who was very involved in originally bringing the series to Netflix and also was quoted in the announcement of the first licensing deal.

Paramount’s new three-year basic cable deal is shorter than the five-year one it succeeds.

According to Nielsen Live+Same Day data, Seinfeld is Comedy Central’s #1 acquired off-network series and TV Land’s #2 program among Adults 25–54.

“As one of the most influential and enduring comedies in television history, Seinfeld continues to resonate with audiences across generations, and we’re proud that Paramount will remain its exclusive cable home,” said Cheeks. “Iconic franchises like Seinfeld are foundational to our programming strategy, and this renewal reinforces our commitment to delivering fan-favorite series that audiences love.”

In addition to cable and streaming, Seinfeld also remains in U.S. broadcast syndication, going through multiple cycles since its 1995 debut on local stations.
 
“Seinfeld is one of the most iconic and enduring series in television history, and we’re thrilled to continue our successful partnerships with both Netflix and Paramount to bring this remarkable series to audiences around the world,” said Keith Le Goy, Chairman, Sony Pictures Television. “Seinfeld demonstrates that exceptional intellectual property stands the test of time. The show’s timeless humor, unforgettable characters, and multigenerational appeal continue to create tremendous value for our partners while introducing one of television’s greatest comedies to new generations of fans.”