Sky renews European NBCU deal

European pay TV operator Sky has renewed its wide-ranging TV and film content deal with NBCUniversal.

The multi-year deal covers Sky Cinema and the NBCUniversal International Networks (NBCUIN) channel portfolio, and includes “comprehensive” electronic sell-through and TVOD elements for the Sky Store.

Sky’s UK and Ireland customers will continue to have access to pay TV channels Universal Channel, Syfy and E! Entertainment and Movies 24, while Sky customers in Germany and Austria will get Universal Channel, Syfy and E! Entertainment and 13th Street.

Syfy and NBCU’s reality SVOD service, Hayu, will also launch on 2018 on Now TV in UK, while Syfy will be made available in Germany through Sky Ticket in 2019.

Onthe content front, Sky will get first run on movies such as the Jurassic, Despicable Me/Minions and Fast & Furious franchises, and take movies from the Working Title and Focus Features catalogues.

Chicago Med will remain on Universal Channel and Dark Matter on Syfy in the UK and Ireland, while Chicago Fire is set for Universal Channel, Bull for 13th Street and Dark Matter for Syfy in Germany and Austria.

Gary Davey

“It’s been a very successful year for rights negotiations and we are very pleased to have secured this long-term deal for our customers,” said Sky managing director Gary Davey.

“Our focus remains on providing our customers with content of the highest quality and NBCUniversal’s movies, television programming and channel brands are globally renowned.”

Belinda Menendez, president of NBCUniversal International Distribution & Networks said: “NBCUniversal International’s latest agreements with Sky, covering the UK, Ireland, Germany and Austria, kick off the next exciting phase of our highly valued relationship.

“We are delighted that Sky’s customers can continue to anticipate premieres of NBCU’s top-quality feature film slate – including via EST and TVOD – as well as having access to our suite of compelling channel brands, through our multi-year renewed relationship.”