AUCKLAND: Sky and global entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal (NBCU) have signed an expanded multi-year deal encompassing movies, drama, comedy, entertainment, reality and news across broadcast channels, on demand and streaming, a news release said.
The agreement with NBCU includes series produced by Sky Studios and Universal Studio Group, which is comprised of Universal Television, UCP, NBCU International Studios and Universal Television Alternative Studios. Movies from the NBCU’s vast film portfolio, as well as linear channel brands E! and CNBC, will also be a part of this deal, increasing Sky’s content offering across its channels and platforms including Neon, Sky Go, Sky On Demand and free-to-air channel Prime.
The deal will deliver thousands of hours of blockbuster films and hit television series to Sky. This includes new series Young Rock, The Equalizer and We Are Lady Parts; Sky Studios original productions, including Gangs of London, A Discovery of Witches and Riviera; and a large library of fan-favourite dramas and sitcoms including Treadstone, Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Office.
Feature film content delivered under the deal includes the blockbusters Trolls World Tour and The Croods: A New Age, in addition to popular recent and classic titles, including The King of Staten Island, the Bourne franchise, Pitch Perfect and Back to the Future.
The deal also includes the launch of Universal TV – the linear channel from NBCU International Networks dedicated to crime and drama procedurals – on Sky. Sky will also continue to hold exclusive broadcast rights to popular entertainment channel E! and news channel CNBC.
Sky Chief Executive Sophie Moloney said: “With an amazing stream of new blockbuster movies and TV series to come, an incredible collection of popular library content, a brand-new channel for our customers in Universal TV and continued access to E! and CNBC, we’re really excited by this deal. Not only does it strengthen the depth and breadth of our offering, but it also secures more of the content that our customers love and value. Having tested the channel concept through our Sky Nation panel, customers are excited to be welcoming Universal TV to Sky.”