After the disastrous launch of Quibi and the tepid response to HBO Max, it appears that the folks at NBCUniversal are ready to try anything possible to build the anticipation for the launch of its streaming service, Peacock, next month. And that means working with a rival studio to help bolster its streaming library.
According to NBCUniversal, the studio has made a deal with ViacomCBS to help add to the Peacock streaming library by licensing popular TV series, as well as a portion of the Paramount film catalog. That means Peacock subscribers can enjoy series such as “Ray Donovan,” “The Affair,” “Charmed,” “Undercover Boss,” “The Game,” and “Everybody Hates Chris,” which aren’t part of the NBCUniversal family of titles. On the film side, Peacock is gaining some huge Paramount titles including the whole ‘Godfather’ trilogy, as well as “Catch Me If You Can,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” “American Beauty,” “Patriot Games,” “Last Holiday,” “Fatal Attraction,” “The Firm,” “An Officer and a Gentleman,” and more.
“We are truly excited to bring some of the most popular movies and series from across the ViacomCBS family of brands to Peacock,” said Frances Manfredi, President, Content Acquisition and Strategy, Peacock. “We continue to expand the Peacock catalog with premium programming from NBCUniversal and beyond; partnering with companies like ViacomCBS to ensure that all of our viewers can choose from the best entertainment options available in the market today.”
“This agreement with Peacock demonstrates the incredible and enduring value of ViacomCBS content,” added Dan Cohen, President, ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group. “The partnership we are announcing today is consistent with our strategy to maximize the value of our content by selectively licensing our library product to third parties while prioritizing franchise IP for our own platforms.”
The deal between NBCUniversal and ViacomCBS does have an expiration date, however. Much like how Netflix operates with licensing partners, the films and TV series being shown on Peacock that are outside of the company’s own library will likely depart the service at some point. However, the current deal is said to run until 2023. And those already subscribing to ViacomCBS partner services will still be able to stream this content as well.
Peacock is expected to launch on July 15.
