BEVERLY HILLS and TORONTO – Netflix’s library of kids and family-themed programming in Canada is about to get deeper after the streaming service nabbed the exclusive Canadian rights for first-run Disney live-action and animated feature films starting next year.
Beginning with 2015 theatrically released feature films, Netflix said Thursday that its Canadian subscribers will be first to see new titles from Disney Live Action, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Disneynature and DreamWorks Studios, about eight months after the titles leave theatres. That's faster than the traditional Canadian premium pay-TV model, according to Netflix.
Financial terms of the multi-year agreement were not disclosed. Netflix inked a similar deal in the U.S. in 2012 for first-run live-action and animated films from Disney beginning in 2016.
"We are delighted to be the new pay TV home in Canada for the world's highest-quality, most imaginative and entertaining films," said Netflix’s chief content officer Ted Sarandos, in the announcement. "Canadians of all ages will have an incredible range of great stories and characters to look forward to."
“We are absolutely thrilled that Canadian Netflix subscribers will be able to experience Disney's premium films in the pay TV window," added Dan Cohen, EVP pay television and digital, Disney-ABC Domestic Television. "Netflix continues to be a highly-valued partner on a global scale and we couldn't be more pleased to extend our great relationship with this exciting new agreement."
The deal could be a blow to some Canadian broadcasters like Bell Media-owned The Movie Network, Corus’ family-themed services and Movie Central, and Family Channel, all of which compete for Canadian pay-TV rights for Disney productions.
When contacted by Cartt.ca, Family Channel's senior vice-president and general manager Joe Tedesco said that its business as usual for Family, Disney XD and Disney Junior, which are in the process of being sold by Bell Media to children's entertainment company DHX Media.
“Today's announcement from Netflix speaks specifically to first-run theatrical film titles from Disney, which has never been part of Family's output agreement”, he said in an emailed statement. “The high-quality, original Disney series featured on Family, Disney XD and Disney Junior remain exclusive to our network.”
A Bell Media spokesperson said that the company had “no comment at this time”, while a representative for Corus Entertainment did not respond to Cartt.ca’s inquiry by press time.
