'Longmire' Season 4 News: Netflix Says Crime Drama 'Didn't Work' For A&E, Dishes On Plans For Future [VIDEO]
Last month Netflix saved Longmire from permanent cancellation in a move which seemed to please everyone.
Lou Diamond Phillips Getting In Shape Before 'Longmire' Returns
On Wednesday Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer for Netflix, spoke with Hitfix about the former A&E crime drama at the Television Critics Association Press Tour.
"Longmire is one that we are resurrecting," declared Sarandos. "There are times that we can uniquely and efficiently aggregate audience for a show sometimes even more effectively than its originating network, where they represent a certain area of programming that we don't have enough of on Netflix."
'Longmire' Star Dishes On Christmas & Fatherhood
"The show had a very loyal, strong base," he continued of the series, "But at the time it was airing or the audience they were trying to reach or the products they were trying to sell against it, it just didn't work for the network, but it'll work great on Netflix."
One of the key problems for A&E was that Longmire allegedly catered to an older audience than their advertisers wanted, but for Netflix this won't be an issue. According to Sarandos, Netflix isn't beholden to ratings or ad rates, which gives them more room to play with content.
Longmire was the highest-rated scripted series on A&E at the time of its cancellation and so the show will likely flourish at its new home. The writers are currently working on new material and production is set to begin in March.
Longmire will likely return on Netflix for a fourth season during the second half of 2015.