Miramax, U.K.'s BSkyB Strike Exclusive Library Deal

Miramax has struck an exclusive multi-year movie library licensing deal with U.K. pay TV giant BSkyB.

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Under the terms of the agreement, Sky will hold exclusive rights to a package of Miramax films, including Academy Award winning Life is Beautiful, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Spy Kids, and Starsky & Hutch, among others, the companies said Monday. Also covered by the deal, which expands the Miramax movies available to BSkyB subscribers, are Pulp Fiction and Chicago.

Financial details weren't disclosed. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. owns a 39 percent stake in BSkyB.

The titles covered by the agreement will be available across the range of Sky Movies subscription channels in high definition, as well as through on-demand service Sky Anytime+ and on the Sky Go mobile platform for people on the move.

“We are very pleased to add our award-winning and beloved films to the Sky lineup, ensuring that Sky subscribers will continue to have access to the best that independent cinema and Hollywood have to offer,” said Danny Goldman, Miramax senior vp and head of sales, Europe. "The entertainment appeal of Sky continues to grow, and we are excited to be in business with the Sky Movies team."

Simon Rexworthy, controller of acquisitions at BSkyB, said: “It’s great to be working with Miramax as they build out their business and make more of their titles available to us. The deal will give Sky Movies customers exclusive access to some of the best titles from Miramax’s unrivalled archive, including such iconic modern classics as Pulp Fiction and Chicago.”

Sky Movies says it is Europe's largest in-home movie service.

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com
Twitter: @georgszalai