Fans of Jim Henson’s ‘Fraggle Rock’ can now stream the entire library on Apple TV+ as of May 27, 2020, as the latter has acquired streaming rights, plus also ordered a new reboot of the series, reports Vulture.
All 96 episodes of the ‘Fraggle Rock’ live-action library from 1983 to 1987 and some specials will be available on Apple TV+ in over 100 countries, as of Wednesday. It’s worth noting this is the first time Apple has acquired rights to previously made content instead of original content, notes Vulture.
However, according to a source speaking to the publication, Apple is not going to be acquiring up old libraries for Apple TV+, similar to how Netflix and Amazon Prime Video operates. The decision to acquire the ‘Fraggle Rock’ library for Apple TV+ means the latter is now the home of the Jim Henson series, instead of old episodes being left with HBO, the old home of the show.
Attention silly creatures — a reboot of the Emmy Award-winning series #FraggleRock is coming soon to Apple TV+.
Catch up on Fraggle Rock: Rock On! in the meantime. https://t.co/AU9AGBDUbS pic.twitter.com/umgTkVQVY5
— Apple TV (@AppleTV) May 26, 2020
“The source says Henson execs first pitched Apple on the idea of bundling the classic episodes in with the deal for the reboot. Initially, the company wasn’t interested but ultimately realized it didn’t make sense for the old episodes to be streaming elsewhere, in essence competing with the reboot,” reports Vulture.
Last month, Jim Henson Company made some pandemic-produced Fraggle short films for Apple TV+ and it appears Apple has seen enough audience interest to nab the full library and also make a new reboot, set to include original puppet stars Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, and Uncle Traveling Matt.
The Apple source says that had the company not acquired the library, consumers would’ve had to go to HBO (the former home for the show) for old episodes and TV+ for the new. By having both, Apple can now accurately market itself as the home to all things Fraggle. (Well, at least live-action: The animated spinoff of the show isn’t part of the agreement.)
