Over the weekend, What’s on Netflix reported that the Netflix original Happy Valley will be leaving the platform in March 2020. This isn’t the first time that a Netflix original has been removed from the Netflix library, but seeing another of these titles go has subscribers questioning what’s going on.

To explain why original content would leave Netflix, What’s on Netflix describes the four categories of content that can be labeled a Netflix Original.

Netflix commissioned and produced the show

Netflix has exclusive international streaming rights to the show

Netflix has co-produced the show with another Network

It is a continuation of a previously canceled show

While Netflix may have exclusive rights to a series, making it fall under the label of a Netflix Original, those rights have a time limit. When the licensing agreement runs out, Netflix could lose rights to the series. This was the case for Happy Valley, a BBC show which was streaming exclusively on Netflix.

When Netflix produces a series, it’s more likely that the series will stay on the Netflix platform, but we’ve also seen the company license content out. For example, the Netflix Original Orange is the New Black is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime.

While Netflix subscribers likely won’t ever be happy to see originals leave the service, this might help explain why it’s happening and what we’ll see leaving Netflix in the future.

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