The Harry Potter Weekend starts Feb. 3 on Freeform. |
Basic cable network Freeform (formerly ABC Family Channel)
is the home of the popular Harry Potter
Weekends .The network has been airing the Harry Potter movie marathons
monthly, which is a treat for Potterheads. The reason for the monthly
programming events (which formerly aired a few times each year) is that
Freeform will be losing the TV rights for the fairy tale film series in July of
2018.
The movie rights had been going back and forth between
ABC/Disney/Freeform and HBO/Cinemax ever since they became available for
television. In 2016, however, ABC/Disney
and HBO lost out to
NBC/Universal in a bidding war. That means that beginning
in July of next year, NBC/Universal networks (which include Syfy and USA) will
be the only networks that will be able to air the Harry Potter franchise. The
TV rights deal supposedly also includes the “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find
Them” movie series.
NBC/Universal also owns Universal Studios theme parks, the
home of The Wizarding World of Harry
Potter. The company wanted to bring the Harry Potter movies into the family.
NBC Universal says that they will have special content to share with fans when
the movies air. They haven’t announced whether they’ll offer special
programming events like the Harry Potter
Weekends, or not.
Fans should enjoy the monthly Harry Potter marathons while
they can. The Harry Potter Weekend
begins Friday, Feb. 3. Here’s the complete schedule. Times are U.S. Eastern
Time.
Harry Potter Weekend Schedule:
Fri., Feb. 3:
3:30 p.m. – Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer’s Stone
7 p.m. – Harry Potter
and the Chamber of Secrets
Sat., Feb 4:
7 a.m. – Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer’s Stone
10:30 – 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
12:30 a.m. – Tom Felton
Meets the Super Fans
Sun., Feb 5:
7 a.m. – Harry Potter
and the Prisoner of Azkaban
10:10 a.m. – Harry Potter
and the Goblet of Fire
1:50 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
Mon., Feb 6:
1:30 p.m. – Harry Potter
and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
5 p.m. – Harry Potter
and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
According to freeform, all programming is subject to change.
Fans can participate by following and commenting on Freeform’s official Facebook and Twitter. Visit Freeform’s
website by clicking here.