Universal is set to move its pay-one window for films from HBO, where they’ve been since 2005, to Peacock starting in 2022.
This means new release films from Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Illumination, and DreamWorks Animation will all be available exclusively on Peacock no later than four months after their theatrical release.
However it’s an unusual deal in that these titles won’t be available for all of the traditional 18-month pay-one window – rather only the first and last four months of it.
During the middle ten months, those films will be licensed to additional partners – expected to be two streamers or cable networks – who will not have exclusive rights. Those partners are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
One caveat is that theatrical films releases by Universal from Amblin Partners don’t fall under that deal, rather they fall under Amblin’s exclusive output agreement with Showtime which has just been renewed and runs through to the end of 2024.
This will include films like the untitled Steven Spielberg biopic, the Dracula-inspired naval horror feature “Last Voyage of the Demeter,” and the Anthony Ramos and Naomi Scott-led sci-fi “Distant”.
Like others have announced, Universal will also be making original films that will be released directly on Peacock and skip theaters altogether.
Source: THR
