Disney Signs Exclusive Deal To Stream Movies On Netflix
These days, if there's one company to be in business with, it's Disney. The home of Mickey Mouse, Iron Man, Buzz Lightyear and Darth Vader is riding high and the company has just partnered up with another major company to get their movies into the world. Disney has agreed to make Netflix the exclusive streaming home of their feature films. Beginning in 2013, all Disney's direct-to-video films will appear on the site. It'll take a bit longer for the new theatrical films to show up; those won't start until 2016. (Star Wars Episode VII streaming!)
But starting immediately, several of the classic vault films, such as Dumbo, Pocahontas, and Alice in Wonderland, will be available to stream.
The announcement comes on the heels of Disney ending their own online streaming service and they've worked together before on TV programming. Read the full press release after the jump.
Thanks to Deadline for the press release, which has all the details.
Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq:NFLX) and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) today announced a new multi-year licensing agreement that will make Netflix the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for first-run live-action and animated feature films from The Walt Disney Studios.
Beginning with its 2016 theatrically released feature films, new Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios and Disneynature titles will be made available for Netflix members to watch instantly in the pay TV window on multiple platforms, including television, tablets, computers and mobile phones. Also included in the agreement are high-profile Disney direct-to-video new releases, which will be made available on Netflix starting in 2013.
Separately, Disney and Netflix have reached agreement on a multi-year catalog deal that today brings to U.S. Netflix members such beloved Disney movies such as "Dumbo," "Pocahontas" and "Alice in Wonderland."
"Disney and Netflix have shared a long and mutually beneficial relationship and this deal will bring to our subscribers, in the first pay TV window, some of the highest-quality, most imaginative family films being made today," said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer at Netflix. "It's a bold leap forward for Internet television and we are incredibly pleased and proud this iconic family brand is teaming with Netflix to make it happen."
"With this cutting-edge agreement, we are thrilled to take our highly valued relationship with Netflix to the next level by adding Disney's premier films to their programming line-up," said Janice Marinelli, President, Disney-ABC Domestic Television. "Netflix continues to meet the demands of its subscribers in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, and we are delighted that they will have much earlier access to our top-quality and entertaining slate," she continued.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
This is a major, major get for Netflix and it certainly feels like they're the big winner here, though I'm sure the deal wasn't cheap. What are your thoughts?