When Is "Game of Thrones" Coming to Netflix? Answer: Probably Never

We all know Game of Thrones can be found on Foxtel in Australia, but when will it come to Netflix? Well...

It's the question many will have on their mind as the biggest show of this decade, Game of Thrones, comes to its end.

Given there are around 11 million Australians with access to a Netflix account and just under five million with access to shows on Foxtel, there's a good chunk of the population that either isn't watching Game of Thrones or is waiting until each season is over to buy them on DVD or iTunes. (Or, they just aren't watching the show legally.)

Read More: How to Watch the Final Season of "Game of Thrones" in Australia

So, why is it that Game of Thrones only airs new episodes on Foxtel? And will it ever come to Netflix? Let's discuss.

A deal between two companies.

Simply put, Foxtel and HBO have an agreement that gives Foxtel the exclusive right to air Game of Thrones (and many other shows) before anyone else. These 'First Run' rights mean HBO's home in Australia is at Foxtel until HBO says otherwise.

Student Edge asked Foxtel to give us a little more information on the deal, but we were told the details remain confidential.

Other popular HBO series such as Westworld, Veep and True Detective, as well as finished series like True Blood and The Sopranos, are also still only available to stream via Foxtel's streaming service, Foxtel Now. This seems to suggest their deal affords them a little more than just 'First Run' rights; they seem to also have complete exclusivity when it comes to streaming.

What does Netflix think about all this?

In the United States, where HBO is a premium cable (AKA paid) channel with a streaming service, Netflix and HBO are major competitors. In Australia, HBO doesn't have its own channel. So, given the premium cable's relationship with Netflix in the US, sidling up to a local Netflix rival, like say, Foxtel, is a smart choice.

That's why you won't find HBO content, with some very rare exceptions, on Netflix down under. One of those rare exceptions is the Entourage movie.

"When content is not available to stream, it can be for a few different reasons, including the content rights are currently exclusive to another company," Netflix's Help Center reads.

However, when it comes to 'First Run Series' agreements, Netflix points out that shows can sometimes become available mere weeks after they first premiere (or months, as with Brooklyn Nine-Nine).

"While each First Run Series agreement is different, Netflix viewers can usually expect individual episodes of a First Run Series to become available one week after their initial broadcast."

Obviously, however, this isn't the case with HBO content in Australia.

Will it ever change?

Maybe. But probably not. It's in Foxtel's benefit to maintain the exclusive relationship with HBO, as it attracts paying customers who want to view that content. Of course, as we've seen with the impending launch of Disney's new streaming service, Disney+, and Apple TV+, there may be further shake-ups in the streaming space. Still, it's not likely enough that Netflix will suddenly gain access to the treasure trove of HBO content.

So, while there's no confirmation that Game of Thrones will never come to Netflix, the probability of that occurring right now is perhaps as low as Ned Stark returning to save all of Westeros.

Header Image: HBO