Are you ready for magic this summer? Get ready Potterheads! Harry Potter is coming back to television!
In 2017, fans learned the popular and beloved Harry Potter weekends on FreeForm would cease to air starting January 2018 due to a new contract negotiation with NBC Universal. As a consolation fans could start streaming the films on HBO, and hold onto the hope when NBC Universal's channels - on its sister stations USA Network, SYFY, Bravo, NBC - would air the movies .
That's about change Potterheads! During the May 1st 2018 airing of the wrestling programme WWE Smackdown, a new commercial aired for Harry Potter's first arrival to the USA Network. The small advert included Buckbeak's flight from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban followed by the words The Magic Begins - This Summer.
The grand tradition of Harry Potter Weekends is sadly coming to an end. For the past several years, FreeForm has celebrated the wizarding world phenonemon with weekend-long marathons, airing all eight movies over the course of three (or more) days. For those who might not know, it's a magical tradition fans have looked forward to as the channel regularly gave shout-outs to characters like Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom, or added an extra bewitching spell to the holiday season. Earlier this year it was confirmed that the movies would eventually transition to new channels in 2018, thus bringing the epic Harry Potter Weekends to an end.
Luckily, FreeForm is not letting 2017 go without a bang so big it would make the fireworks-experts Weasley twins jealous.Starting Thursday, December 28th, Harry Potter fans can ring in the new year with one last marathon of good versus evil.
If you're looking to tune into the last marathon, FreeForm has its full schedule available. So, enjoy a butterbeer and grab that special Potterhead in your life to make some more memories for your pensieve. Here is a copy below:
Thursday, December 28th
3:00 PM HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE 6:30 PM MOVIE NIGHT WITH KARLIE KLOSS - Movie Night With Karlie Kloss Karlie and friends watch the film ``Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.''
Friday, December 29th
12:00 PM HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE 3:30 PM HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS 7:30 PM HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
Saturday, December 30th
9:00 AM HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE 12:40 PM HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX 3:50 PM HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE 7:30 PM HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1 11:00 PM HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2
Sunday, December 31st
7:00 AM HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE 10:40 AM HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX 1:50 PM HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE 5:30 PM HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1 9:00 PM HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2
The Future of Harry Potter Weekends
There's still a glimmer of hope to hold onto, Potterheads! Immediately in 2018, Harry Potter Weekends might just be opening at the close. HBO struck a deal with Warner Bros and will host its first every marathon on New Years Day, running all eight Harry Potter movies and Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them uncut and commercial free. Afterwards, the films will be available on their network and streaming devices. Also, starting summer 2018, NBC Universal's new deal signifies that new marathons might be available in the future on channels like USA or SyFy.
Are you going to be tuning in for the final showdown? What were your favorite memories of Harry Potter Weekends? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
Whether or not you watch a lot of tv, one thing for sure Harry Potter fans are familiar with is FreeForm and their magical Harry Potter Weekends.
On a regular basis, the channel formerly known as ABC Family, would celebrate different characters and events by holding a marathon of the franchise from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. Unfortunately, as times are changing and the titles of the movies has switched hands, Collider confirmed with FreeForm that they will no longer continue its staple Harry Potter content in 2018.
For some, this news might not come as too much of a surprise. In 2016, NBC Universal bought TV rights to Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. As well, HBO has announced that for this new years it will kicking off 2018 with a Harry Potter marathon of its own - all nine movies so far. This is the first time that the series will air uncut, commercial free on network television, and be available in the future to stream on the same platform.
It's the end of an era, but all is not lost. NBC Universal's TV deal with Warner Bros kicks off in July 2018, meaning that the movies will start to air on SyFy and USA. HBO owns a piece of the pie, offering the films on their own services. There's also the possibility of surviving your own Harry Potter marathon (and I can show you how!).
Harry Potter Weekends were one of my favorite pasttimes with the fandom, as I always loved tuning and watching the movies from beginning to end and feeling like I was apart of a greater celebration. If you want to catch the last FreeForm Harry Potter weekend, raise your wands at the end of December 28th to December 31st.
Are you going to miss Harry Potter weekends? What do you think FreeForm should replace it with?
