Sky & Disney Sign New Multiyear Programming, Channel Agreement

LONDON: Sky has signed a new multiyear movie and TV agreement with Disney UK & Ireland, providing Sky Movies and NOW TV Sky Movies Pass customers with premieres such as Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur and Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the first pay-TV window around nine months after their release in theaters. 

Thanks to the new pact, customers can also enjoy Sky Movies Disney channel and the latest Disney, DisneyPixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm hits, all in HD and in some cases 3D. Also, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior will continue to be available through Sky’s subscription packages in both standard definition and HD.

The new agreement will offer customers more Disney Channels series through catch-up TV and on demand than currently available, at no extra cost. Also included in the pact are ABC Studios prime-time drama and comedy series such as Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy and Scrubs, available via ABC Studios on demand, through Sky Box Sets. Movies are part of the on-demand deal as well. This includes Disney hits such as Frozen, Enchanted, Maleficent, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, as well as DisneyPixar hits such as Up, Monsters, Inc. and Toy Story.

The two also agreed to make a range of Disney movies, channels and on-demand content available via the Sky Go mobile TV service. Additionally, all-new movie titles and a large selection of classic movie titles will be available to buy and keep, or rent, via Sky Store.

Gary Davey, the managing director of content at Sky, commented: “Sky and Disney have been working together for almost 25 years. Our collaboration has continued to grow and the launch of the exclusive Sky Movies Disney channel two years ago has been a huge success. This new agreement means our customers can continue to enjoy the biggest blockbusters like Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Inside Out before they are available on any other online subscription service. They also get access to a great portfolio of family channels and a growing on-demand library of amazing shows and films which we know they love.”

Mark Endemaño, the senior VP and general manager for media distribution at Disney EMEA, said: “With our shared goal of bringing the highest quality, creative entertainment to audiences in the U.K. and Ireland in ever more flexible ways, we are extending our relationship with Sky to offer subscribers our movies, series and our channels at home and on the go. Two years on from its launch, we are particularly proud of the shared success of Sky Movies Disney, and look forward to bringing more of our much-loved stories and characters to audiences in the U.K. and Ireland.”