"Friends" is set to stay on Comedy Central UK for another four years after the pay-TV channel secured a new deal, despite rumours that ITV or Netflix might look to steal the rights to the US comedy franchise.
Comedy Central, which is run by Channel 5 owner Viacom, has struck a deal with Warner Bros TV distribution to continue hosting re-runs of the 10 series of "Friends" until 2019 in the UK.
The show, which retains a strong fan base even 11 years after the last episode aired in the US, had been mooted as potentially a good fit for ITV2 to look to take on to boost its schedule, according ti The Hollywood Reporter.
It is also thought that Netflix ran the rule over the franchise to potentially boost its UK operation.
To mark the new deal Comedy Central is launching a week-long "FriendsFest" that will see a venue in Brick Lane, London, turned into the "ultimate Friends experience".
This will include the recreation of the set of Monica's apartment, played by Courtney Cox in the series, an exhibition of original props and the famous orange sofa featured in the show.
