Netflix picks up global rights to BBC Top Gear to face off against Amazon and Clarkson’s auto rival
Video streaming website Netflix has invested in the rights to the BBC’ s newly reformed Top Gear show with Chris Evans and Matt Le Blanc at the helm.
While the show’s former hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May secretly shoot a new car-focused series (although they are forbidden from using the word Gear in the as yet unnamed show), Netflix revealed it will air the new Top Gear, providing a car alternative to Prime's output.
Continuing its existing deal with the BBC, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said: “Theoretically it should follow the deal of the old format where Top Gear is still under the terms of the old deal.
“So in many parts of the world we already have it picked up and we’ll continue to talk to them about doing it as well. 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.”
Meanwhile Clarkson continues to tease the as-yet untitled Prime Video show.