All articles tagged with #streaming rights
Xbox has denied reports that it secured exclusive streaming rights for Grand Theft Auto 6, clarifying that the game will not be available via cloud streaming on PC. While Xbox Cloud Gaming will offer the title at launch on November 19, 2026, the service is introducing strict monthly hour caps and a new pay-as-you-go model to manage demand.
Amazon Prime Video has secured exclusive global rights to stream the Primetime Emmy Awards for six years, beginning in 2027. The deal ends the decades-long rotation among major broadcast networks and makes the ceremony free to watch worldwide without a subscription.
Amazon Prime Video has secured exclusive global rights to stream the Emmy Awards in a six-year deal, ending the ceremony's presence on traditional US broadcast networks. The agreement, which begins in September 2027, replaces the long-standing 'Wheel Deal' rotation among ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. The broadcast will be free worldwide without requiring a Prime subscription, marking the first time the awards leave linear television entirely. This move aligns the ceremony with the streaming origins of modern television and expands its reach to over 200 countries. The deal also positions Amazon alongside Google, which holds upcoming Oscar rights, as both platforms leverage free live events to build advertising footprints and global audiences.
Amazon Prime Video has finalized a six-year agreement to broadcast the Primetime Emmy Awards globally, ending the 31-year-old 'wheel deal' rotation among major broadcast networks. The deal, valued at approximately $15 million annually, moves the ceremony to a streaming platform for the first time since 1949, with the first broadcast scheduled for September 2027. The Television Academy confirmed the merger with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is on track for mid-2027, potentially integrating daytime awards into the new streaming framework.
The 2026 MLB Wild Card Series began with significant controversy over broadcast accessibility. While the Chicago Cubs narrowly avoided a no-hit loss to the San Diego Padres in Game 1, many fans were unable to watch due to restrictive distribution deals. NBC placed the Chicago games exclusively on Peacock and NBC Sports Network, excluding major providers like DirecTV and Sling. This fragmentation, combined with rising subscription costs, has drawn sharp criticism regarding the complexity of accessing live sports.
The Television Academy is in advanced talks to move the Primetime Emmy Awards to Amazon Prime Video, ending the 31-year 'wheel deal' with broadcast networks. The 78th ceremony on NBC marked the final broadcast under the current eight-year agreement. This shift would make the Emmys the second major EGOT award to move off network TV, following the Oscars' move to YouTube in 2029. While Prime Video is the leading candidate, the Academy has also explored simulcasts and other streaming platforms, though a single-platform deal offers stability and higher production incentives.
Prime Video has become the exclusive local streaming home for six NHL teams starting with the 2026-27 season. The multiyear deal covers the Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and St. Louis Blues. Fans in these regional markets can subscribe for $19.99 monthly or $99.99 annually, independent of an Amazon Prime membership. This move replaces failing regional sports networks and centralized production models, allowing teams to control distribution while out-of-market fans continue using NHL Center Ice or ESPN+.
Netflix and AMC Global Media have signed a five-year, $500 million global streaming deal to bring The Walking Dead Universe—including six spin-offs and the original series—to Netflix in most regions starting next year, with AMC+ streaming the original series in 2027; the pact expands to key territories like the UK, Italy, Australia and New Zealand and covers about 371 episodes across the lineup.
Even though fans and critics champion 1995’s Strange Days, rights issues and weak box office have left it effectively unstreamable in 2026. The film’s cyberpunk premise around the SQUID memory-tech and its sharp take on police overreach and media addiction remain timely, but the heavy licensing costs and returns have deterred streaming platforms, making a physical copy or thrift-store find the best way to watch for now.
MLB's season opener between the Yankees and Giants was streamed exclusively on Netflix, triggering strong fan backlash over limited accessibility; the piece notes Netflix's growing dominance in sports rights and cites social-media criticism of the move.
Tony Khan is reportedly thrilled by Paramount Skydance's bid for Warner Bros Discovery, viewing it as the best possible scenario for AEW’s distribution. The deal would affect AEW's current media footprint, which includes WBD rights through 2027 with a Warner option for 2028, and faces regulatory hurdles from antitrust authorities and EU approvals amid a shifting streaming landscape and competition from UFC's owner.
Sony Pictures Entertainment and Netflix have signed a multi-year global Pay-1 licensing deal to stream Sony feature films on Netflix worldwide after their theatrical and home-entertainment windows, with full global rights rolling out by early 2029 and initial territory-by-territory rollout starting later this year. The pact expands Netflix’s existing arrangement and includes upcoming Sony titles such as Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda live-action film, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, and Sam Mendes’ Beatles films, reflecting a deepened, worldwide collaboration between the two companies.
Taylor Sheridan is shifting his television and film deals from Paramount to NBCUniversal, with a focus on expanding his Yellowstone universe and bringing his creative vision to Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming platform, while maintaining existing rights and projects with Paramount until 2028.
Apple has secured a 5-year U.S. streaming rights deal for Formula 1, adding live races to Apple TV, in a move that aligns with its broader strategy to expand sports content and capitalize on the sport's growing popularity in the U.S., boosted by the success of the F1 movie and recent races.
YouTube TV is engaging in carriage disputes with media companies like NBCUniversal over content ingestion and streaming rights, aiming to integrate partner programming directly into its platform for better user engagement, which has led to conflicts over fair rates and market advantages.