A late-night talk show on Netflix? That is what the company announced on Thursday as part of a deal with Chelsea Handler, the soon-to-exit star from the E! cable network.

The idea could appear counterintuitive because Netflix, the subscription streaming video service, has thus far only posted original series in their entirety, not day by day or even week by week.

But this apparent incongruity may be what appealed to Ms. Handler, a comic who has been public about seeking a new and different landing place after declaring that she was planning to leave E!, where for seven years she has hosted “Chelsea Lately,” a daily late-night show. She has stood out as the only female host in the otherwise male-dominated world of late night.

Netflix announced a comprehensive multiyear deal with Ms. Handler that centers on the new show, though obviously it cannot be specifically described as a late-night talk show because it will presumably be available at any time on Netflix once it is posted.