Comcast Digital Store Gets Sony Movies, TV Shows

10 Mar, 2014 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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Comcast March 10 said it has signed a license agreement with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to sell the studio’s titles through the Xfinity On Demand digital store.

Launched last fall, the Comcast digital store — the first for a cable operator — now includes content from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, NBC Universal, Sony and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

Among the first Sony titles available for purchase will be the multi-Academy Award-nominated American Hustle, which will be available to own digitally March 11 — seven days ahead of its packaged-media launch.

Additional movies and TV titles available for purchase in the coming weeks include the critically-acclaimed TV series “Breaking Bad,” as well as movies Captain Phillips, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2, The Amazing Spider-Man and 21 Jump Street, among others.

Electronic sellthrough saw a 47% increase in consumer spending in 2013 to surpass $1 billion for the first time ever, according to DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group. Consumers spent $1.2 billion buying movies and TV shows digitally, up from $808 million in 2012.

“The Sony Pictures library is a terrific addition to our rapidly expanding offering of hit films and TV shows available for purchase,” Michael Schreiber, SVP of content acquisition at Comcast Cable, said in a statement. “The response to the digital store has been encouraging and tells us our customers love the flexibility and ease of purchasing content directly from Xfinity On Demand to watch when and where they want it.”

Comcast subscribers have the ability to purchase movies and television shows — often weeks before they are available to rent or purchase on Blu-ray and DVD — and store them in the cloud. Their content can be viewed on their TV, PC or mobile devices. Purchased titles are added to customers’ On Demand menus, which are easily accessible on the TV, online or via the Xfinity On Demand Purchases app.

“Sony Pictures is pleased that this agreement brings significant titles to Comcast customers,” Man Jit Singh, president of SPHE, said in a statement. “We deeply value our relationship with Comcast and look forward to working closely with them to meet the needs of all audiences.”

 

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