It seems Netflix’s cheque-book isn’t anywhere near large enough to beat BSkyB as far as Warner Bros. is concerned.  BSkyB has renewed a multi-year output deal with Warners which gives the pay-TV broadcaster a one-year exclusive window over other pay-TV services – such as Netflix.

Netflix boss Reed Hastings is on record as saying that his PPV film rental service would be “really aggressive” and confident that Netflix would outbid players such as BSkyB for ‘first window’ pay-TV rights.

However, the temptations for Sky were simply too good to miss. Upcoming movies from Warner Bros include The Dark Night Rises and The Great Gatsby as well as the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Evidently the Time Warner-owned studio liked the sound of a joint-marketing move with Sky to promote the studio’s output in the UK.

As part of the deal, terms of which were not revealed, Sky also gets to show the movies on its Sky Go service, as well as on Sky Movies Box Office service.

“This innovative and ambitious deal presents consumers with myriad ways to enjoy our films, many of which will have been produced here in the UK, and we look forward to working with Sky as it continues to invest in great content,” said Josh Berger president & managing director, Warner Bros. UK, Ireland and Spain.

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