U.K. Online Movie Service Blinkbox Pacts With Disney to Challenge Netflix, Amazon’s LoveFilm

LONDON – U.K. online movie service blinkbox has inked a deal with Disney U.K. and Ireland to offer customers movies including DreamWorks’ War Horse, Disney’s The Muppets and Disney Pixar’s Toy Story along a slew of TV shows such as Lost and Grey’s Anatomy from Disney’s ABC Studios.

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The deal will make the service a bigger player in the online video space, in which Netflix and Amazon.com's LoveFilm are key players in the U.K.

Blinkbox’s offering will aim to offer titles from the Disney stable that consumers can buy or rent, with some latest titles becoming available day-and-date with their DVD rollout. The content will be available via people's computers, smart TVs, game consoles and tablet devices without subscription. The online operator said Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and Mary Poppins would also be made available to buy.

Blinkbox co-founder and CEO Michael Comish, in a comment aimed at rival online players Netflix and LoveFilm, said: “At blinkbox, we focus on the highest-quality movie experience with all the latest titles available for our customers to enjoy anytime, anywhere without being tied into a subscription.”

Catherine Powell, senior vp and general manager, media distribution, The Walt Disney Company EMEA added: “Working with innovative platforms such as blinkbox, we are committed to offering our must-see entertainment to consumers in ever-more easily accessible, flexible ways. From classic Disney films, through to cutting-edge ABC Studios TV drama, this selection provides a broad choice for every member of the family.”

The latest deal expands blinkbox’s catalog of over 10,000 films from existing partnerships with all the major studios, including Warner Bros., Paramount, Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Universal, plus deals with over 40 other program providers.