Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment have agreed to new terms of cooperation under which the streaming release of Sony films in many countries will launch first on Netflix, expanding on the previous model that only worked in select markets.
Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment have agreed to new terms of cooperation under which the streaming release of Sony films in many countries will launch first on Netflix, expanding on the previous model that only worked in select markets.
According to Engadget, the deal covers the so-called Pay-1 «window»: the first period of a film’s appearance on Netflix’s subscription service after its full theatrical release and digital sales/rentals. The companies call the agreement multi-year, but do not disclose the exact terms.
In practical terms, this means that Netflix will be the first subscription service where viewers will be able to watch future Sony releases after cinema and VOD. Among the projects mentioned in the parties' communications are a game adaptation of The Legend of Zelda and a series of biopics about The Beatles. In parallel, Netflix will license part of Sony’s back catalog — a certain number of already released films and TV series, in order to gradually replenish the library.
The launch of global coverage will not be a «one-shot» event, but a phased one: rights in different countries will be tightened throughout the year as existing licenses expire, and full availability is expected in 2029. Previously, Netflix had exclusive Pay-1 rights to Sony films only in the US, and now the model is being scaled to the world.
For Sony, this arrangement guarantees a global partner for the «first subscription release,» and for Netflix, a steady stream of Hollywood premieres without buying a studio. Previous Sony films have already received a «second life» on the service after distribution, including Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Uncharted, fueling Netflix’s interest in securing the rights to new releases for years to come.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how Netflix agreed to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. This historic merger will unite the world leader in streaming and one of Hollywood’s oldest studios.
