Netflix has gained a massive edge over Foxtel and Stan by gaining the streaming rights to some of Hollywood’s biggest movie blockbusters with insiders now tipping an early March launch for the popular US streaming service as opposed to March 31 as initially planned.
The US streaming Company has struck a deal with The Walt Disney Company that will see blockbusters such as the new Star Wars films, beginning with J.J. Abrams’ highly-?anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, and Marvel’s Avengers and in 2016 the Age of Ultron available on their network.
In the months after launch, box office hits including Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, Maleficent and Big Hero 6, will be available exclusively with Netflix.
The Netflix deal includes content from several Hollywood Studio’s including Marvel Studios and Lucasfilms, Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studio. Among the content that will be available on the $10 a month network will be the Disney smash hit Frozen, Pixar’s Planes, Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Saving Mr Banks and Muppets Most Wanted.
SmartHouse has been told that as movie and TV contracts with existing holders such as free to air TV stations and Foxtel run out Netflix will pick up the rights for Australia. This includes the highest-grossing films of 2012 and 2013 – Iron Man 3 and The Avengers that are Marvel titles.
Also included in the deal are the SVOD rights to several TV series including the animated hit Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Lost from ABC Studios, Jake and the Never Land Pirates from Disney Junior and Good Luck Charlie from Disney Channel.
This content is set to prove popular with parents who have children.
The agreement also includes library content, including many family and childhood favourites from the Disney catalogue.
“As part of our longstanding global relationship with Disney, we’re thrilled to bring fan favourites like Tangled and Star Wars: The Clone Wars to Netflix members in Australia and New Zealand,” said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer of Netflix. “We believe it is a great representation of the calibre of television and movies that our members will be able to enjoy.”
Catherine Powell, managing director of The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand, added that Disney is “excited” to provide consumers “with even more options when it comes to how and when they enjoy our fantastic entertainment content”.
“In today’s world, subscription over-the-top services play a critical role in media consumption, and we’re delighted to bring our top-quality films and television series to these fans.”
Last week Stan announced a content licensing agreement with Roadshow. That will give Stan exclusive streaming access to the two biggest films of 2014, The Lego Movie and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, as well as the well-mined Lord of the Rings and The Matrix trilogies, among others.
The only major content deal for the SVOD platform yet to be confirmed is for Warner Bros, the studio home of the Harry Potter, Dark Knight and The Hangover series and the coming series of big-budget DC Comic adaptations beginning with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Stan has also secured exclusive rights to new original series from another major US streaming service, Amazon Prime, including the award-winning Transparent.
Netflix users will also get the third season of the acclaimed political drama House of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, which premieres globally on February 27. A new series from 30 Rock’s Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, will premiere on March 6 and the anticipated drama Bloodline, starring Sam Shepard and Ben Mendelsohn, starts on March 20.
