Amazon & IMDb TV Strike Deal with Universal

Amazon’s Prime Video and IMDb TV streaming services have clinched a multiyear licensing deal with Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG).

Prime Video will have an exclusive pay-one window for UFEG’s slate of live-action films in the U.S. starting with the 2022 release slate and will also receive rights to a package of UFEG’s library movies. IMDb TV has an exclusive network window for films from UFEG’s 2020-21 theatrical slate and rights to a package of animated titles.

Starting in 2022, UFEG’s new live-action films will first become available on Peacock after their theatrical releases, before landing exclusively on Prime Video four months later with titles to include Jurassic World: Dominion, The 355 and Ambulance. Prime Video will also gain SVOD rights to UFEG’s theatrical slate of animated movies through a subsequent window, including titles such as Minions: The Rise of Gru and DreamWorks Animation’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and The Bad Guys. Several iconic titles, including the Jurassic Park franchise, Bourne franchise, Love Actually, Get Out and the Fast & Furious franchise, will also become available to Prime members.

IMDb TV will have an additional window to stream UFEG’s 2020-21 slate of theatrical releases, featuring titles such as Dolittle, The Invisible Man, F9 (Fast & Furious 9) and Sing 2, with exclusivity across AVOD and SVOD, during the license period. IMDb TV will also have access to select titles in UFEG’s animation library, including Despicable Me 2, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Shrek 2.

“We know Prime members love movies and this new deal with UFEG will deliver some of the best films available for our customers,” said Brad Beale, Prime Video’s VP of worldwide content licensing. “This new slate of UFEG films, including exciting upcoming releases such as Jurassic World: Dominion, The 355 and Ambulance will continue to build upon Prime Video’s catalog and delight Prime members, all at no additional cost to their membership.”

“Recognizing that all parties would benefit from a modernized windowing structure, this new agreement allows Prime Video and IMDb TV to benefit from UFEG’s vast library and diverse content like never before,” said Peter Levinsohn, vice chairman and chief distribution officer of UFEG. “We’re thrilled to team up with Amazon to deliver our titles to its customers. This agreement further delivers on our distribution strategy to monetize our unparalleled movie library across multiple services, while offering customers the most choice, control and flexibility in how, when and where they watch films.”

“This significant deal with UFEG is another step forward in solidifying IMDb TV’s reputation as a premium free destination for blockbuster movies,” said Lauren Anderson and Ryan Pirozzi, co-heads of content and programming at IMDb TV. “Expanding our library with prominent UFEG titles from every genre, IMDb TV continues to deliver on our promise to provide viewers the content they crave with something for everyone.”