Netflix and Paramount have finalized a new licensing agreement that will bring a slate of high-profile CBS seriesto the streaming platform. The deal includes several ongoing dramas and fan-favorite titles, marking a notable shift in content availability across platforms.
Watson to stream on Netflix
Netflix has announced it is licensing the series Watson from Paramount Global, according to Deadline. As part of the new agreement between the two companies, Netflix will add Watson, which premiered its second season in October, to its U.S. and international libraries.
The deal was revealed in Netflix’s Q4 2025 earnings letter, where Co-CEO Ted Sarandos stated, “We have a new slate of licensed titles from Paramount which is going to bring a lot of new series, shows that Netflix has never had around the world.” Netflix confirmed it has licensed 20 shows from Paramount. The agreement also includes international rights to titles such as Matlock and The King of Queens.
Watson, produced by CBS Studios, stars Morris Chestnut as Dr. John Watson. The character leads a clinic treating rare disorders a year after Sherlock Holmes’ death. The show is a modern reimagining of the Holmes universe and has performed well for CBS. Its addition to Netflix follows the platform’s recent success with licensed titles like Tracker and So Help Me Todd.
The agreement comes during Paramount’s ongoing negotiations involving a potential Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery assets. This backdrop adds significance to the deal. Netflix is pursuing major content acquisitions while also expanding its library through licensed programming.
The Paramount licensing deal brings additional shows to Netflix, including Matlock (the 2024 reboot starring Kathy Bates) and the sitcom The King of Queens. Netflix will release these titles in international regions. It has not disclosed specific launch dates or the number of available seasons.
