House of Cards S5 finally has UAE Netflix release date

The much-anticipated launch of the popular series starring Kevin Spacey was delayed due to rights issues

Kevin Spacey, AKA President Frank Underwood, will be on UAE Netflix screens from July 4. David Giesbrecht / Netflix via AP
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Netflix subscribers in the UAE disappointed at not receiving the latest adventures of President Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his devious ways at the same time that House of Cards season 5 landed on the site elsewhere in the world can finally smile again.

The new series will finally land on the streaming site’s regional version on July 2.

While most other markets received the latest shows simultaneously on May 31, licensing issues in the Middle East meant that OSN already owned the first broadcast rights to the show, so Netflix viewers have had to wait, ironically until the contractual arrangements with OSN allow Netflix to broadcast its own show.

Netflix launched in the Middle East last year, but had already sold the first broadcast rights to some of its most popular shows to other broadcasters, both here and in other territories where it did not previously have a presence. Among the shows Netflix did not own in this region at launch were House of Cards and Orange is the New Black.

Netflix’s chief of content, Ted Sarandos, assured us earlier in the year that now that Netflix has launched almost globally, one of its key priorities will be reacquiring the rights to its own shows in regions where it had sold them.

For now, however, you will be able to binge watch House of Cards on its second run in the region from July 2.

cnewbould@thenational.ae