Netflix shifts into revamped Top Gear

The new Top Gear presenting team is led by Chris Evans (centre)

Netflix has confirmed its acquisition of the BBC’s newly revamped Top Gear, in a move that sees it go head-to-head against former host Jeremy Clarkson’s new motoring show on rival streamer Amazon Prime.

The news follows weeks of speculation that the US SVoD was pondering a move for rights to the programme, which launches on BBC2 next month.

Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said at a Paris conference yesterday that the show was covered by an existing deal Netflix has with the BBC. The streamer already offers old episodes of the series, which has been sold into more than 200 territories.

“Theoretically it should follow the deal of the old format where Top Gear is still under the terms of the old deal,” said Sarandos.

“So in many parts of the world we already have it picked up. The show is very popular on Netflix, as you can imagine. There’s a change in format but people definitely prefer the British Top Gear over the local Top Gear in almost every country in the world.”

BBC Worldwide led its sales slate at February’s Showcase event with the new show, which is being fronted by Chris Evans. The former Big Breakfast presenter took over from Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond after all three left in the aftermath of Clarkson’s assault on a producer last year.

James May (left) alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond

The refreshed BBC series, co-hosted by former Friends star Matt LeBlanc, will now take on Clarkson, May and Hammond’s new car show, the title of which is yet to be revealed, on Amazon this autumn.

The news is likely to cause some concern for Amazon, which reportedly paid £160m (US$226m) to hire the former Top Gear presenting trio as well as its executive producer, Andy Wilman.

In related news, UK customers who signed up for Netflix before May 2014 are facing a price hike of £1.50 (US$2.13) to keep HD streaming of shows. The Californian firm is moving those users from a £5.99 standard package to one costing £7.49.

Netflix yesterday announced the release dates for its original series The Crown and Marseille. At the same two-day event, the streamer also said Marvel’s The Defenders series will begin shooting this year.