Apr 6, 2011 07:32 GMT  ·  By

Lionsgate, the independent movie studio producing the hit TV series 'Mad Men' struck a deal with Netflix for exclusively streaming the show's episodes online. Variety reports the deal is worth between $75 - $100 million dollars.

The agreement includes rerun rights for all present and future episodes of the show, all 7 seasons included. Netflix was already streaming Mad Men episodes in Canada since September 2010.

As we reported in the past weeks, the quarrel between show writers and AMC, the distributing cable network, has been swept under the rug and 3 new seasons are to come. Unfortunately these negotiations pushed the show's filming back and 'Mad Men' will be on a hiatus in 2011.

Season 5 will be aired in March 2012, with the next two seasons in the coming two years. This leaves the show's fans in limbo while the new episodes are filmed.

Problem solved. Netflix, following its aggressive strategy for new TV-generated content, managed to strike a deal with Lionsgate and will air episodes from the current 4 'Mad Men' seasons starting July 2011.

Episodes from new seasons will be available as soon as the season ends on TV. So all season 5 episodes will be available on Netflix as soon as the last episode airs on AMC.

Netflix will be paying around $1 million per episode, quite a big deal for online reruns. Nevertheless, public interest for the show is very high and the exclusivity clause in the contract allows some peace of mind for Netflix executives.

This aggressive push for original and exclusive content continues, the Wall Street Journal reporting talks between the online streaming service and NBCU (NBC Universal).

For now Netflix is already streaming content from NBC, airing reruns of 'Saturday Night Live.'

Previously Netflix signed a $1 billion deal with Epix for movie rentals from 3 major studios: Lionsgate, MGM and Paramount. Also Netflix will be airing episodes from the drama series "House of Cards," directed by David Fincher, starring Kevin Spacey.