Foxtel and NBCUniversal Global Distribution & International (NBCU) have announced they have completed a new, multi-year agreement covering movies, drama, comedy, entertainment, reality and news for the Foxtel Group’s broadcast, on demand and streaming platforms.
The agreement includes premiere Australian subscription rights for movies from Universal Pictures and a significantly expanded range of titles from the studio’s rich library of blockbusters and evergreen classics. This further strengthens Foxtel Movies’ extensive line-up including hit films from The Fast and the Furious, Jurassic, Bourne and Jaws franchises, in addition to DreamWorks Animation titles.
Foxtel will continue to reimagine its channel offering with NBCU’s popular channels Universal TV, E! and business news channel CNBC. Universal TV will join Foxtel’s new FOX Crime channel in providing a line up of crime and procedural drama including multiple series in the Law & Order and Chicago franchises. Together with E! and Foxtel’s ARENA, Foxtel’s position will be cemented as the number one destination for reality and Hollywood news with popular franchises such as E!’s Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Real Housewives from Bravo.
The new agreement will also see NBCU continue as a major provider of scripted content for Foxtel’s expanded line-up of FOX-branded channels and on demand platforms. This includes complete seasons of some of the most popular sitcoms for FOX Funny and FOX Hits including The Office, 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation. The deal also brings Foxtel first run rights to US blockbuster series Chicago P.D. which will premiere on FOX One on November 15.
NBCU will also provide thousands of additional hours of on demand content including movies and both Bravo’s popular reality series and scripted box sets, initially available through the New Foxtel Experience on iQ3s and iQ4s and through Foxtel NOW. These will be joined by season five of locally commissioned hit reality series The Real Housewives of Melbourne, currently in pre-production with NBCU International Studios’ Matchbox Pictures and due on Foxtel screens exclusively in Australia next year.
Foxtel Chief Commercial Officer Amanda Laing said: “Foxtel and NBCU have a long and shared history of bringing iconic and ground-breaking entertainment to Australian audiences.
“We are incredibly pleased to extend that partnership with this new cornerstone agreement covering movies, scripted content and NBCU channels in a new agreement that reflects Foxtel’s commitment to building strong partnerships with the best content creators in the world.
“This broad, multi-year deal continues to deliver Foxtel subscribers NBCU’s amazing range of top-quality films and series, along with our compelling channel brands,” commented Chris Taylor, Managing Director, Distribution & Networks, ANZ, NBCUniversal. “We look forward to an on-going collaboration with Foxtel as we continue our long-standing, successful partnership.”
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Top Photo: NBCUniversal’s Chris Taylor with Foxtel’s Amanda Laing