There's no greater sinking feeling than the moment you sit down to enjoy the finale of your favourite show - which you've been saving for the exact right time, when everyone's out and you've got a good brew on the go - only to find it's been REMOVED from Netflix or iPlayer, or whatever streaming service you use. That, pals, is true heartbreak.
All good things must come to an end, we know this. But did you know that this exact sentiment may soon apply to Friends' time on Netflix, even thought it was only added to the streaming service at the beginning of this year?
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According to Deadline, BTIG media analyst Rich Greenfield reckons that the popular sitcom could soon be taken off Netflix in the wake of WarnerMedia's announcement of plans to launch a competing service - something that Disney will also be doing with its own titles as well as those under the Marvel and Star Wars umbrellas.
"Content like Friends is likely to disappear from Netflix in 2019 as WarnerMedia launches its own SVOD service," he wrote in an analyst note released ahead of Netflix's earnings interview.
"As more content creators launch their own SVOD services, how should investors think about the impact of losing high-profile syndicated content?"
The show was massive when it first ran, having started in 1994 and running for a total of 10 seasons. But its success has managed to cross the decades, with Parrot Analytics saying Friends is the third most popular sitcom in the US behind Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Big Bang Theory - yup, that's despite the final season wrapping well over 14 years ago.
However, it sounds like its popularity might not necessarily save it this time, something that Peter Csathy, founder of digital media consultancy CreaTV Media says could be a 'serious blow' for Netflix, along with the loss of any Disney content.
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"If all the 'Netflix Killers' out there band together and take back their franchises, that would be a serious blow to Netflix," Csathy said.
"Kids and family viewing on Netflix represents a surprisingly high number, and kids watch franchise content over and over again. Netflix parents are happy to pay for that kind of babysitting so long as the content is there. If Disney princesses, Star Wars, Marvel, DC Comics, Pixar and other mega properties pull out of the Netflix universe, Netflix most certainly would feel that. "
We recommend you just get binging to be on the safe side - after all, you don't want to get halfway through the final season and never be able to find out if she got off the plane...
Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros
Topics: TV and Film, US Entertainment, Netflix, Friends