Corus Entertainment has struck an agreement with NBCUniversal that gives the broadcaster exclusive rights to air Peacock Original programming in Canada.
The move is a strong indicator that the coming subscription video on demand (SVOD) service won’t be available on this side of the border.
Peacock, named for the iconic NBC logo, is set to launch in the U.S. on July 15. The Corus deal includes a selection of original scripted and unscripted content, along with movies and specials, including new series, Girls5Eva, executive produced by Tina Fey; Aldous Huxley adaptation Brave New World, starring Alden Ehrenreich, Harry Lloyd and Jessica Brown Findlay; Rutherford Falls, created by Ed Helms, Sierra Teller Ornelas and Mike Schur; and reboots of Punky Brewster, starring Soleil Moon Frye; and Saved By The Bell with Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley.
“Corus is delighted to expand its offering with our long-time partner NBCUniversal to bring various Peacock Originals to audiences in Canada,” said Troy Reeb, Executive Vice President, Broadcast Networks, Corus Entertainment, in a release. “With full linear and on-demand stacking rights, this partnership further bolsters Corus’ powerful suite of brands and platforms with more premium content opportunities for advertisers.”
Corus says more details on how and when the programming will roll out on its platforms will be announced in the coming months.
The announcement comes amid both an increasingly competitive market for content with ongoing COVID-19 production disruptions, as well as indicators that OTT subscribers, surrounded by an ever-increasing number of options, are experiencing a level of streaming fatigue.
The latest Deloitte Digital Media Trends survey indicates that while the average U.S. consumer is now subscribing to four services (80%), up from three pre-COVID, churn is also up.
Seventeen per cent of subscribers Deloitte surveyed said they had cancelled at least one service since the pandemic began, versus 20% pre-pandemic over the last 12 months. Cost was cited by 36% as the reason behind the cancellation, followed by the end of a free trial or discount period.
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