Amazon Prime Video has expanded its feature film offerings in Canada after closing a significant multi-year deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment for exclusive first window streaming rights to the studio’s recently released and upcoming theatrical movies.
Following initial releases like Tom Hanks’ A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood; Jumanji: The Next Level; The Grudge; Bad Boys For Life; and Zombieland: Double Tap, starring B.C. actor Avan Jogia, Prime members will be able to enjoy free streaming access to Sony Pictures Entertainment films for just under two years. Titles are also available to rent or buy for both Prime members and non-members.
Under terms of the deal, all of Sony’s major releases will be made available on Prime Video as they are released in Canada. The frequency of new releases will vary month-to-month.
Amazon Prime Video hasn’t disclosed the valuation of the deal.
Thanks to quarantine measures, Amazon Prime has been gaining on Netflix’s dominant lead in the streaming landscape. While Amazon doesn’t disclose information on how many subscribers it has in Canada, Kantar’s most recent Entertainment On Demand report found that Prime Video subscriptions accounted for 23% of SVOD subscriptions in Q2, up from 14% the previous quarter. It’s estimated that Prime now has over 150 million subscribers worldwide. Netflix added 10 million subscribers in Q2 and now boasts more than 190 million global subscriptions.
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