Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG) and Peacock Today Announce New Licensing Agreement And It’s A Big One

Beginning in 2022, Universal Pictures will Develop and Produce Exclusive Original Films for Peacock. Photo courtesy of Deadline

PEACOCK INKS MULTI-YEAR, ACCELERATED PAY-ONE LICENSING DEAL WITH UNIVERSAL FILMED ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Dynamic Agreement Will Debut Universal Titles Exclusively on Peacock No Later Than Four Months After Their 2022 Theatrical Premiere

Via Peacock PR-

New York, NY, and Los Angeles, CA—July 6, 2021—Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG) and Peacock today announced a new licensing agreement where, beginning with the 2022 theatrical slate, all UFEG film content will become available to fans exclusively on Peacock as part of a dynamic redefined Pay-One window. The deal includes an accelerated window that will bring Universal, Focus Features, Illumination, and DreamWorks Animation titles exclusively to Peacock no later than four months following their theatrical debuts. The traditional 18-month Pay-One window will be broken into three segments with titles available for the first and last four-month segments exclusively on Peacock. Additionally, beginning in 2022, original films developed and produced exclusively for Peacock by Universal Pictures will also premiere on the service.

The 2022 theatrical release slate from Universal Pictures includes the newest installment in the blockbuster Jurassic World franchise, Jurassic World: Dominion; a new original film from Oscar^® winner Jordan Peele; new movies from DreamWorks Animation, The Bad Guys and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish; the next installment in the biggest animated franchise of all time, Minions: The Rise of Gru from Illumination and more.

Photo courtesy of Jurassic-Pedia on Twitter

“Since launching Peacock just one year ago, we have seen incredible viewership of movies and continue to expand our catalog with a range of films for every fan and occasion,” said Matt Strauss, Chairman, Direct-to-Consumer and International, NBCUniversal. “Universal Filmed Entertainment Group has been a fantastic partner and we are excited to not only bring their amazing slate of blockbuster films and beloved franchises to Peacock in the first-pay window but also provide a steady stream of fresh, original films exclusively for Peacock customers throughout the year.”

Minions: The Rise Of Gru Photo courtesy of Diversions

“This new dynamic Pay-One agreement demonstrates UFEG’s continued commitment to building a film ecosystem that allows filmmakers and artists to reach the broadest possible audience, celebrates and strengthens the theatrical experience, and, above all, empowers fans to experience the films they love on their own terms,” said Peter Levinsohn, Vice Chairman and Chief Distribution Officer, UFEG.  “We’re excited to become Peacock’s first Pay-One partner while the platform continues to curate and build a vast film library that will delight its rapidly growing subscriber base.”

The new agreement maximizes consumer access to UFEG film content by segmenting the traditional Pay-One window.  Peacock will have the exclusive rights to all UFEG films for the first and last four-month segments, with additional distribution partner announcements for the rights to the remaining 10 months to come.  By showcasing content across multiple platforms throughout the Pay-One window, UFEG titles will constantly refresh across the streaming ecosystem ensuring no title or platform is oversaturated. This approach allows multiple audiences across a variety of streaming services to experience Universal’s award-winning and critically acclaimed film slate.

Peacock customers will enjoy exclusive access to original movies from Universal Pictures beginning in 2022.  Originals will be developed by Universal Pictures world-class Production team and feature titles from some of the studio’s established first-look filmmaking partners and compelling new voices in storytelling.

About Universal Filmed Entertainment Group

Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG) produces, acquires, markets and distributes filmed entertainment worldwide in various media formats for theatrical, home entertainment, television and other distribution platforms. The global division includes Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation Film, and Television.  UFEG is part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.  NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

About Peacock

Peacock is NBCUniversal’s streaming service. Peacock delivers a world-class slate of exclusive originals, on-demand libraries of hit TV shows, plus critically acclaimed films from the vaults of Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation, Illumination, and Hollywood’s biggest studios. In addition, Peacock taps into NBCUniversal’s unmatched ability to deliver a broad range of compelling topical content across news, sports, late-night, Spanish-language, and reality. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. For more information on Peacock, click here.