Harry Potter Weekend on Freeform Labor Day weekend

Photo: Copyright Warner Bros. Used with permission from Freeform.

Cable network Freeform has been very generous with their Harry Potter Weekend movie marathons this year. It’s been such an exciting year for Potterheads, what with the upcoming release of the first movie in the three part Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” on November 18, and the premiere of London stage play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child last month. Fans can’t get enough of their favorite fairy story.

There may, however, be another reason for the frequency of Potter magic on Freeform, and it may mean the end of their beloved Harry Potter Weekends. For several years, now, the broadcast/cable TV rights for the Potter films have gone back and forth between ABC/Disney, which owns Freeform, and HBO/Cinamax. They've mostly belonged to ABC Disney, and that's what made the Harry Potter Weekends possible. Yesterday, there was big news about the broadcast and cable rights to the movie franchise. I emailed my contact at Freeform regarding the status of the Harry Potter Weekends, and will report here if I get a response.  

NBC is reporting that NBCUniversal has purchased the broadcast and cable rights to the entire Harry Potter movie franchise and the Fantastic Beasts movies from Warner Bros. The Potter movies will become available to NBC, Syfy, and USA starting July 1, 2018. According to NBCUniversal, their cable networks will “bring viewers content that includes extended director’s cut versions of the first two Harry Potter films; the 2011”When Harry Left Hogwarts” featurette; and 3D versions of the last two films in the Harry Potter series.”

This venture brings the Harry Potter TV rights under the NBCUniversal umbrella. Universal, of course owns the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions at Universal Orlando Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal Studios Japan. The acquisition of the movie rights opens up more opportunities for tie-in events between the Potter movies, the Fantastic Beasts movies, and the theme park attractions

In the meantime, fans can enjoy Freeform’s next Harry Potter Weekend which starts Friday, September 2, the day after back to school day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The current schedule is below. Air times are U.S. Eastern time:

Friday, Sept. 2:

2:30 p.m. – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

6 p.m. – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Saturday, Sept. 3:

7 a.m. – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

10:30 a.m. – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2:30 p.m. – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

5:30 p.m. – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

9 p.m. – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Sunday, Sept. 4:

7:30 a.m. – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

10:30 a.m. – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2 p.m. – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

5:30 p.m. – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

9 p.m. – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

Monday, Sept. 5:

2 p.m. – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

5:30 p.m. – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

Freeform sometimes changes their schedule, so I will publish the finalized schedule closer to the start of the event. Freeform always welcomes viewers to participate in Harry Potter Weekends by using special hashtags on Twitter. Follow Freeform on Twitter (@FreeformTV) to find out more. You can also participate on during the event on Freeform’s official Facebook page.