Apr 28, 2021

Sony Films will stream on Netflix and then head to the Disney platform

Sony's films are coming to Disney's platforms - after they've spent time on Netflix.

A new deal gives the House of Mouse exclusive U.S. streaming and tv rights to Sony Pictures Entertainment's features after the first pay tv window. The pact covers Sony's new theatrical releases from 2022 to 2026, which includes the sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, as well as “a significant number of” the studio's library titles, among them the Hotel Transylvania franchise and the original Spider-Verse.

A few weeks ago, Sony and Netflix announced a deal that gives the latter exclusive U.S. streaming rights to Sony's films in the first pay tv window following its theatrical release. After that, the films will now be free to go to Disney's networks, such as ABC or Disney Channels, or streaming services, including Disney+ and Hulu.

The financial terms of the deal with Disney were not disclosed. Sony previously licensed its films in the second pay tv window to FX, which has been owned by Disney since the latter's acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019.

Alone among the major studios, Sony does not have its own mass-market streaming platform. Whereas Warner Bros., Universal, Paramount, and Disney are increasingly sending content to HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount+, and Disney+ respectively in a bid to rival Netflix, Sony is forging partnerships with these companies to get its films onto streaming platforms.