Universal will begin exclusively streaming its films on its streaming service, Peacock, in 2022, after the studio’s partnership with HBO expires at the end of this year. All of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group’s movies will play on Peacock during their pay-one partner TV window, which is 120 days after their theatrical release, Deadline is reporting.
Under the new licensing agreement, Universal’s films will be available exclusively on Peacock during the first and last four-months of the initial 18-month pay-one partner TV window.
During the middle ten months, the movies will be licensed to additional partners. Consumers will still be able to buy or rent the films on other platforms besides streaming.
The upcoming streaming partnership between Universal and Peacock has not been done before in the traditional pay-one window.
By Universal showcasing content across multiple platforms throughout the first 18 months, no title or platform will be oversaturated.
The new deal between the studio and streaming platform covers all of Universal, Focus Features, Illumination and DreamWorks Animation’s theatrical releases next year. However, Universal’s slate for the rest of this year, including F9, M. Night Shyamalan’s Old and Blumhouse’s Halloween Kills, will stream on HBO, as part of its first pay TV partnership.
Besides Universal’s 2022 theatrical releases, the upcoming streaming partnership will also include exclusive content. So in addition to streaming such anticipated theatrical releases as Jurassic World: Dominion and Minions: The Rise of Gru, Peacock will also develop and produce exclusive movies. The streaming service’s original projects will include titles from some of the studio’s established first-look filmmaking partners, as well as compelling new voices in storytelling.
“This new dynamic Pay-One agreement demonstrates UFEG’s continued commitment to building a film ecosystem that allows filmmakers and artists to reach the broadest possible audience, celebrates and strengthens the theatrical experience, and, above all, empowers fans to experience the films they love on their own terms,” said Peter Levinsohn, Vice Chairman and Chief Distribution Officer, UFEG. “We’re excited to become Peacock’s first Pay-One partner while the platform continues to curate and build a vast film library that will delight its rapidly growing subscriber base.
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