CBS strikes even better streaming deal for ‘Zoo’ than ‘Under the Dome,’ ‘Extant’

We remember back when “Extant” was renewed for a second season, there were a wide array of questions as to how in the world this would happen. This was not a show drawing big ratings or getting a ton of attention from the critics. Who would have anticipated a second-season renewal?

Ultimately, what happened with both “Extant” and to a certain extent “Under the Dome” (which struggled a bit as we neared the end of season 2) was that the two series benefited heavily from a deal with Amazon Prime. The streaming service brought episodes of these shows quickly to its subscribers, and the network in return scored a sweet deal of cash as a result. Ultimately, we’re talking about around $10 million or so, at least, over the course of the entire season.

Now, the new CBS drama “Zoo” premiering tonight has scored a deal with Netflix, one that according to The Hollywood Reporter, will pay out even more to the network than the Amazon deal did with “Under the Dome” and “Extant.” The way this will work is that not long after the end of the show’s first season, new episodes will start streaming on Netflix. This means no real waiting, and extra income for a network that is looking for alternate ways to program.

In a statement Netflix’s vice-president of content licensing Sean Carey said the following:

“Zoo is just the kind of smart, gripping and shocking series that Netflix members love … We are delighted to be offering all episodes to our U.S. members immediately after its airing on CBS.”

Our quick interpretation of this deal is that so long as “Zoo” is not a complete flop commercially, the James Patterson adaptation will get a second season on CBS. These deals help to offset any frustration that the network may have with lower ratings during the summer.