Universal Pictures and Peacock announced that new films from the studio will head exclusively to NBCUniversal’s nascent streaming service after they play in theaters.
Under a new licensing agreement, which starts with the 2022 theatrical slate, Universal’s movies will be available exclusively on Peacock no later than four months after they debut in theaters. The films will then play for four months exclusively on the service before heading to other services and then eventually landing back on Peacock. You can still buy or rent the film away from streaming, as usual. Universal and Peacock share the same corporate parent, so the licensing deal isn’t a huge surprise. But the announcement is notable because Universal has some of the most popular blockbuster franchises in film, such as Fast & Furious and Jurassic World. Exclusive content is essential for streaming platforms in an increasingly fractured media market.
