Netflix Secures Pay-TV Rights to Weinstein Movies

20 Aug, 2013 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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Deal expands current agreement covering documentaries and foreign films, including 2012 Oscar winner ‘The Artist’

Netflix Aug. 20 said it has signed a deal with The Weinstein Co. for exclusive streaming rights in the pay-TV window for all theatrical releases beginning in 2016.

Netflix already has streaming rights to TWC documentaries and foreign films, including Academy Award-winning Best Picture The Artist and Best Documentary Feature Undefeated, as well as to a wide range of movies released by RADiUS-TWC.

Starz Distribution (including Anchor Bay Home Entertainment) is the current home video distributor for select TWC titles, while Lionsgate has home video rights to catalog titles.

"Harvey and Bob Weinstein are in a class of their own when it comes to choosing and producing the best films in the world," said Ted Sarandos, CCO of Netflix. "They are as innovative in business as they are creative in their storytelling. We look forward to reinventing the pay-TV window with the Weinsteins."

Co-founder Harvey Weinstein, who considers the SVOD pact “probably” the biggest deal in the history of TWC, said the distributor and streaming pioneer are discussing ways to “reinvent” the pay-TV consumer experience.

"Their enthusiasm for movies of all kinds was the big factor in our choosing Netflix. Moving forward, when people see The Weinstein Co. name on a movie they know that our pay-TV partner is the most significant new force in the entertainment industry — Netflix," Weinstein said.

Separately, ITG Research reportedly estimates Netflix's third-quarter domestic revenue will range from $917 million to $922 million, well above Wall Street consensus. Domestic streaming will reach $699 million in revenue, with the rest coming from higher-margin disc rentals.

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