(3 August 2009 8:30 pm)

MUMBAI: Online movie rental service Netflix has tied up with Disney-ABC Television Group wherein Netflix will stream the earlier seasons of ABC TV shows including Lost and Desperate Housewives.

The deal will allow Netflix members to instantly watch the first five seasons of Lost, seasons four and five of Desperate Housewives, season five of Grey's Anatomy and seasons one and two of Legend of the Seeker.

Lost can be seen on Netflix starting August while the others would be available in subsequent months beginning September.

"In all, we're providing Netflix members with some of the most popular and avidly-followed shows on TV while working with an important business partner to help grow several of its key franchises," says Netflix VP content acquisition Robert Kyncl.

The new agreement extends the online relationship between Netflix and Disney-ABC Television Group, which announced their first digital licensing deal in September last year.

The deal centers on original series from Disney Channel including Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Palace and The Suite Life on Deck. It also includes Disney's newest original series, Joans and Sonny with a Chance.