The Walt Disney Company and Sony Pictures Entertainment have announced a multi-year agreement that will allow Disney to stream Sony's movies across its various platforms after their exclusive run on Netflix ends.
Disney's deal includes the U.S. streaming and TV rights to Sony's new theatrical releases from 2022-2026 and begins after each film's "Pay 1 TV window." The platforms covered in the deal include streaming services Disney+ and Hulu, along with ABC, Disney Channels, Freeform, FX and National Geographic. It follows on the heels of Netflix signing a multi-year, first pay window licensing deal with Sony to become the exclusive home for streaming the studio's new movies starting in 2022.
Among the titles covered in the deal are Sony's Jumanji and Hotel Transylvania franchises, along with Spider-Man and Sony Pictures’ Universe of Marvel Characters films. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“This landmark multi-year, platform agnostic agreement guarantees the team at Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution a tremendous amount of flexibility and breadth of programming possibilities to leverage Sony’s rich slate of award-winning action and family films across our direct-to-consumer services and linear channels,” said Chuck Saftler, head of Business Operations for ABC, Freeform, FX Networks, and Acquisitions in DMED’s Networks division, who played a key role in the negotiations. “This is a win for fans, who will benefit from the ability to access the very best content from two of Hollywood’s most prolific studios across a multitude of viewing platforms and experiences.”
“This groundbreaking agreement reconfirms the unique and enduring value of our movies to film lovers and the platforms and networks that serve them,” said Keith Le Goy, president, Worldwide Distribution and Networks, Sony Pictures Entertainment. “We are thrilled to team up with Disney on delivering our titles to their viewers and subscribers. This agreement cements a key piece of our film distribution strategy, which is to maximize the value of each of our films, by making them available to consumers across all windows with a wide range of key partners.”
Sony's deals with Netflix and Disney come at a time when other major studios like Warner Bros. and Paramount are removing content from rival streaming platforms in order to build up their own services. Among the five major studios, Sony is the only one without an in-house streamer.
Source: The Walt Disney Company/Sony Pictures Entertainment