Universal Confirms Theatrical Windows and Release Strategy
Universal has finally added its voice to the crowd of studios confirming how they will manage their streaming interests and theatrical pipelines into 2022 and beyond. For now, we will see most of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group content head exclusively to Peacock- but with a confirmed theatrical and VOD release. Brandon Blake of Blake & Wang P.A shares the news.
Brandon Blake
2022 Slate
This new confirmation will begin with the 2022
viewing slate. No more day-and-date releases were confirmed for Peacock this
year, either, despite how alluring fresh movies can be for streaming services.
Peacock currently stands at 20 million or so active monthly users, and it’s
clear they want to grow its potential further, too. Although that benchmark has
been announced as ‘way ahead’ of original growth predictions. Will a new
exclusivity for Universal movies give Peacock that boost? It’s likely to be
tempting fruit to dangle for subscribers. As with HBO Max, which launched
similarly to Peacock right into the pandemic craziness, they’ve suffered from
empty pipelines due to set closures. Building tantalizing stock now could help
offset that unfortunate start.
What of theatrical releases?
That exclusivity does not, however, seem to be
coming at the expense of a theatrical release. They were also quick to confirm
that movies will move to Peacock as early as’ 45-days post-theatrical release.
With the notion that the ‘standard’ 90-day window could ever return receding
into the rearview mirror rapidly, that’s a solid enough window and likely to
earn them some theatrical support, too. Together, the Vice Chairman and Chief
Distribution Officer for UFEG assures us, this will ‘satisfy the needs and
expectations for key stakeholders across the spectrum,’ including filmmakers,
production partners, Peacock subscribers, and the general public.
To be honest, it likely will! It’s a strategy
we’ll likely see repeated by studios with their own streaming assets going
forward. 2022 will likely be the test case for how well audiences respond to
this solidified strategy, so this entertainment lawyer will be watching with
interest.
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