A major reality TV staple is making the leap from cable to streaming.
As first reported by Deadline, the streaming service Peacock has secured the rights to Married at First Sight in a multiseason deal with producer Kinetic Content. The long-running reality series, which has aired over 300 episodes, will debut on the streaming platform later this year with its 19th season.
The move marks a significant shift for the show, which has been a mainstay on Lifetime since 2017. Prior to that, Married at First Sight premiered on FYI in 2014 before being simulcast on A&E for its second season. The experiment-based dating series, originally adapted from a Danish format, has been one of Lifetime’s top-rated shows, averaging around 500,000 same-day viewers per episode.
Peacock’s acquisition strengthens its growing lineup of unscripted hits, joining Love Island – which gained major traction on the platform last summer – and The Traitors, another buzzy reality series. The move follows a recent NBCUniversal restructuring that placed reality content under the oversight of Frances Berwick.
With Married at First Sight moving to Peacock, Lifetime loses one of its most popular franchises, which has spawned several spinoffs, reunion specials, and companion series over the years. The shift also expands Peacock’s presence in the competitive reality TV space, leveraging Kinetic Content’s expertise, the production company is also behind Netflix’s Love Is Blind and ABC’s Claim to Fame.
Kinetic CEO Chris Coelen, along with executive producers Cat Rodriguez, Eric Detwiler, Erica Kessler, Kenda Greenwood Moran, and Montre Burton, will continue overseeing the series under its new streaming home.
The transition highlights the broader trend of legacy TV shows migrating to streaming platforms, as traditional cable networks grapple with shifting viewership habits.
