The Walt Disney Company and Sony Pictures Entertainment have reached a deal and announced a multi-year agreement for U.S. Streaming and T.V. Rights for a vast portfolio of content, including Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel films, including the collection of Spider-Man films.
What’s Happening:
- The Walt Disney Company and Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced a multi-year content licensing agreement for U.S. streaming and TV rights to Sony Pictures’ new theatrical releases across Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution’s vast portfolio of platforms including its streaming services Disney+ and Hulu, as well as linear entertainment networks including ABC, Disney Channels, Freeform, FX and National Geographic.
- The deal covers theatrical releases from 2022-2026 and begins for each film following its Pay 1 TV window.
- The agreement builds upon the companies’ prior arrangement which saw SPE movies licensed to FX in the post-Pay 1 TV window. This means that after that first debut (say, on Netflix) in the pay window, Disney will now have the rights to the films for its streaming services and networks.
- The deal also grants rights to a significant number of SPE’s iconic library titles, ranging from the Jumanji and Hotel Transylvania franchises to Sony Pictures’ Universe of Marvel Characters films, including the numerous Spider-Man films.
- This gives Disney enormous programming potential across its platforms and makes them key destinations for a robust collection of Spider-Man films. Notably, the agreement provides Hulu access to a significant number of library titles beginning as early as this June.
What They’re Saying:
- Chuck Saftler, head of Business Operations for ABC, Freeform, FX Networks, and Acquisitions in DMED’s Networks division: “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. 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.”
- Keith Le Goy, president, Worldwide Distribution and Networks, Sony Pictures Entertainment: This groundbreaking agreement reconfirms the unique and enduring value of our movies to film lovers and the platforms and networks that serve them. 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.”