Netflix has thrown a delightful curveball at its subscribers by unexpectedly adding all eight seasons of the beloved USA Network series ‘Royal Pains‘ to its streaming library in the United States on January 22nd, 2024.
The show, starring Mark Feuerstein, Paulo Costanzo, Reshma Shetty, Brooke D’Orsay, and Ben Shenkman, follows the journey of a young emergency room doctor who is compelled to change his career path after being unfairly blamed for a patient’s demise. His newfound profession involves serving as a house-call doctor catering to the needs of the affluent and famous. ‘Royal Pains‘ enjoyed a successful run, spanning 104 episodes, from 2009 to 2016 on the USA Network, with Universal Television at the helm of the production.
This isn’t the first time ‘Royal Pains’ has graced Netflix screens. The show was previously available for streaming during most of the 2010s, including new seasons released between 2014 and 2017. Following the addition of its eighth and final season in May 2018, it was temporarily removed from the platform in May 2020.
As of now, ‘Royal Pains’ is also accessible on Prime Video, where all eight seasons are currently available. The series used to be on Peacock, NBC Universal’s streaming service, until it was taken down in July 2023.
Netflix’s acquisition of ‘Royal Pains’ is part of its growing portfolio of USA Network shows. Following the successful addition of ‘Suits’ to its library last summer, Netflix is gearing up to welcome ‘Monk‘ in early February 2024. This move signifies Netflix’s renewed interest in licensing content, as several competitors have reconsidered their approach to licensing their shows. Notably, Netflix US is set to receive over a dozen Disney series, while more NBC Universal shows are slated for international release in the upcoming months.
As for ‘Royal Pains,’ Netflix has secured the streaming rights only until the end of this year, with the official removal date scheduled for January 1st, 2025. However, it’s important to note that such removal dates are subject to change, and if the show garners significant viewership, Netflix may extend its stay on the platform.
