Netflix Inks New Deals with Fox, Universal

LOS ANGELES: Rental outfit Netflix has announced new deals with Universal Studios and Twentieth Century Fox covering both physical DVD distribution and streaming of titles.

The expanded deal with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. includes a new license for Fox TV shows, with prior seasons of several series being offered to Netflix’s more than 12 million members, including prior seasons of Lie to Me, Bones, 24, and King of the Hill, and complete seasons of library TV hits such as Prison Break, Arrested Development and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The studio will be able to determine the window on its content in both the physical and streaming formats. The agreement provides for a 28-day window from the home entertainment street date for new Blu-ray and DVD film releases, and varying dates of availability for its library and new television programming.

"This new streaming partnership with Netflix affords Fox the necessary flexibility to effectively manage our overall product offering by determining the content and appropriate window relative to our other media offerings," said Peter Levinsohn, the president of new media and digital distribution for Fox Filmed Entertainment. "We look forward to working with Netflix and our other partners to further enhance the digital experience across screens of all sizes."

"In a rapidly changing world of windows and technology, this deal reflects a long-standing relationship between Netflix and Fox and is an example of how we can work together creatively," said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix. "We believe the Fox deal, which brings some of the studio’s great TV franchises and a library of both contemporary and classic movies to the growing percentage of Netflix members who are watching instantly, is a win all around."

The Universal Studios Home Entertainment agreement covers the distribution of Universal new release DVD and Blu-ray titles and expands the selection of the studio’s movies that can be streamed instantly from Netflix to TVs and computers. New DVD and Blu-ray titles will have a 28-day window, with Netflix receiving the benefits of reduced product costs, significantly more units and better in-stock levels four weeks after street date.

"As the home entertainment market continues to evolve, we’re exploring new and creative approaches to distribution with our key studio partners," said Sarandos. "Our intent is to forge agreements that make sense for the companies involved and that, on the whole, improve the consumer experience and the movie ecosystem. We believe the Universal deals accomplish that."

"We’re extremely pleased to have reached this mutually beneficial arrangement that will allow Netflix subscribers to continue enjoying Universal’s film content on DVD and Blu-ray," said Craig Kornblau, the president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment.