Just a few weeks ago, Sony Pictures struck a deal with Netflix on exclusive streaming rights to its theatrical streaming releases starting in 2022, as well as catalog titles and some new originals they will be producing. Now Disney has also announced a licensing agreement with Sony Pictures for 2022-2026 theatrical releases, as well as some of its older catalog titles.
So what’s going on? The Netflix deal secures exclusive US rights for the period after the films are released in theaters and on Blu-ray / video on-demand, approximately nine months after they hit theaters. Disney’s deal starts after that, for the window where movies are usually on cable TV or broadcast networks with ads (such as Deadline mentions that this deal is a follow-up to a similar deal Sony had with the now Disney-owned network FX).
In addition to new movies, the deal also secures streaming rights to older movies, including Spider-Man movies missing from the MCU on Disney + and Evne Into the Spider-Verse (after their Netflix exclusivity expires). In addition to Disney + and the company’s various cable networks, this also includes Hulu, and a note in the press release will add a “significant number of library titles” starting June.
There is no word on how much money will change hands, but Sony Pictures exec Keith Le Goy said in a statement, “This agreement confirms an important part of our film distribution strategy, which is to maximize the value of each of our films by making them available to consumers in all windows with a wide range of key partners. “
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