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Netflix Loses Out as Sony Pictures Stays with Starz

It looks like Netflix’s interest in Sony films wasn’t strong enough to shake things up. Starz and Sony Pictures Entertainment have just announced an expansion of their previous deal that w...
Netflix Loses Out as Sony Pictures Stays with Starz
Written by Josh Wolford
  • It looks like Netflix’s interest in Sony films wasn’t strong enough to shake things up.

    Starz and Sony Pictures Entertainment have just announced an expansion of their previous deal that will see Starz remain the exclusive home for Sony Pictures theatrical releases through 2021. The old deal saw the same agreement through 2016.

    Starz has been the exclusive pay-TV home for Sony Pictures’ films since 2005.

    “Starz has been a terrific partner and we are excited to be extending our relationship with them through the 2021 slate,” said John Weiser, President, U.S. distribution for Sony Pictures Television.

    Recent reports suggested that Netflix was interested in grabbing Sony films for its streaming service. When asked about it during January’s earnings call, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said that his interest in Sony content was “just like it was for Disney. It’s strong.”

    “We’re interested. We’ll see how it works out,” Hastings said.

    In December, Netflix inked a huge deal with Disney to become the exclusive source for Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, and Marvel theatrical releases, inside the pay-TV window, starting in 2016.

    Back in September of 2011, Netflix and Starz were unable to come to an agreement to keep Starz Play content (which included many Sony films) on the service.

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