'Friends' reboot? Why streaming giants are cashing in on revivals

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ā€œFriendsā€ might be getting a reboot ā€” on HBO Max (T), the new streaming service that debuts in May 2020.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the six core cast members along with co-creators David Crane and Marta Kauffman are in talks for a ā€œreunion special,ā€ although few details are known.

This comes as interest surrounding the sitcom is at an all-time high with the showā€™s 25th anniversary leading to pop-ups and theatrical showings across the country ā€” along with the occasional Instagram glitch (FB).

Jennifer Anistonā€™s ā€œFriendsā€ reunion selfie (literally) caused the site to crash after fans flocked to ā€œlikeā€ the photo. The pic also helped secure Aniston a Guinness World Record for fastest account to reach 1 million followers.

The appetite is there ā€” and itā€™s not just OG viewers.

Thanks to Netflix (NFLX), ā€œFriendsā€ was able to connect with a younger generation ā€” garnering an entirely new fan base in a short amount of time.

The show will be leaving the streaming giant in 2020 after WarnerMedia outbid Netflix in a deal worth a reported $425 million over five years.

The series, coupled with the rumored ā€œreunion special,ā€ should help better position HBO Max against the competition ā€” especially as it enters the space at a much later time and at a much higher price point than services like Apple TV+, which debuted Nov. 1 for just $4.99 a month.

Graphic by David Foster/Yahoo Finance

But itā€™s not just HBO Max cashing in on reboots.

Netflix secured a one-time licensing deal with Paramount for the fourth installment of ā€œBeverly Hills Copā€ starring Eddie Murphy.

This marks a big win for the platform as it looks to secure more star power and sexier titles.

Meanwhile, NBCUniversalā€™s (CMCSA) new Peacock service is set to host ā€œSaved by the Bellā€ and ā€œBattlestar Galacticaā€ revivals ā€” with NBCā€™s chairman also revealing to Deadline that resurrecting ā€œThe Officeā€ is a big time ā€œgoal.ā€

And capitalizing on fan favorites from the past has seemed to do well for Disney+ (DIS).

The streaming newbie secured over 10 million subscribers in just one day ā€” soaring past analyst estimates of 8 million by the end of 2019.

Alexandra Canal is a Producer at Yahoo Finance.

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