- WarnerMedia and Foxtel pen multi-year content partnership and distribution deal
- Co-production of local and original content is part of the agreement
- Foxtel CEO: The deal “Will power our broadcast and streaming strategy on multiple platforms”
WarnerMedia and Australian pay-TV service Foxtel have announced a new content partnership which has been described as a “major new multi-year licensing agreement.”
Foxtel subscribers in Australia will have access to the film and TV content from Warner Bros, HBO, HBO Max and WarnerMedia networks as the two confirm the deal it has also pledged to co-produce content in Australia.
Under the terms of the deal, Foxtel will continue as the Australian home of HBO, while also becoming the new exclusive licensee for Warner Bros’ produced and distributed scripted originals from HBO Max, such as the reboot of Gossip Girl, The Flight Attendant starring Kaley Cuoco and Ridley Scott’s upcoming sci-fi series Raised by Wolves.
The agreement also renews Australian rights for Warner Bros catalogue titles — including marquee properties like The Big Bang Theory and Friends — and forthcoming first-run feature films and Warner Bros classics.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, however, carriage agreements for CNN and programming supporting Foxtel’s kids’ offering including Cartoon Network and Boomerang, along with expanded SVOD rights also are part of the partnership.
Warner Bros president of worldwide television distribution Jeffrey R Schlesinger said: “We are incredibly pleased to have the opportunity to pull together a diverse collection of audience favorite films, series and documentaries from Warner Bros, HBO and HBO Max as well as continued access to leading news and entertainment networks CNN, Cartoon Network and Boomerang and be able to offer all of this in one deal.”
A new area of agreement within the deal is a new co-production arrangement to create original and locally produced content in Australia.
Foxtel Group chief executive Patrick Delany said: “We are pleased that after working together for almost 25 years we can announce an expansion of our relationship, not only with Warner Bros. and HBO, but with the extended WarnerMedia family.
“The diverse output from WarnerMedia to the Foxtel Group will power our broadcast and streaming strategy on multiple platforms and multiple brands ensuring our customers continue to enjoy the very best of TV and on demand from the world’s number one producer of television.”
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