Sky secures exclusive NBCU deal
November 6, 2012
In a further move to strengthen its position against competing OTT services such as LOVEFiLM and Netflix, Sky has entered a new multi-year licensing agreement with NBCUniversal International Television Distribution for the exclusive television rights in the UK and Ireland to current, upcoming and library feature films from NBCUniversal for its Sky Movies service.
All movies will be made available to Sky customers on-demand, on Sky Go, as well as in HD and 3D where available. In addition, Sky has entered a separate agreement with Universal Networks International (UNI) to extend the availability of UNI’s television channels on Sky’s subscription TV packages.
Under the terms of the licensing agreement, Sky Movies customers will have an exclusive window of subscription access to NBCUniversal titles after they have ended their run in UK cinemas. As a result, Sky Movies will be the first subscription service in the UK and Ireland to screen Snow White & the Huntsman, Battleship, Ted, The Bourne Legacy, ParaNorman and Savages. Upcoming releases that are also part of the agreement include Anna Karenina, Les Miserables, The Man With The Iron Fists, Despicable Me 2 and About Time.
Sky customers will also gain exclusive subscription access to classic NBCUniversal titles including Jurassic Park, Back to the Future and the American Pie series of films, as well as iconic titles such as Mamma Mia, Gladiator and Scarface.
All of the movies will be available via 11 dedicated Sky Movies channels, Sky’s comprehensive TV on-demand service and Sky Go, the award-winning multiplatform TV service. The full range of titles included in the licensing agreement will also be available to customers of Sky’s NOW TV OTT service.
Customers who subscribe to Sky Movies via Virgin Media, UPC and TalkTalk will also be able to enjoy the full range of subscription films from the NBCUniversal collection.
The new channel carriage agreement will enable Sky customers to enjoy popular programming across NBCU’s portfolio of channels on Sky, including shows such as Rookie Blue, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Cold Case on Universal Channel; Keeping up with the Kardashians, Fashion Police and Chelsea Lately on E! Entertainment Television; and Continuum, Warehouse 13 and Haven on Syfy. Other channels included in the carriage agreement include The Style Network and Movies 24. Sky Media, Sky’s advertising and sponsorship sales house, will continue to represent NBCU’s channels.
Ian Lewis, Director of Sky Movies pointed out that Sky Movies customers would enjoy the biggest and best selection of movies on their terms – and at least a year ahead of any other subscription service.