Is Movies Anywhere Ready to Partner with Paramount, Lionsgate, MGM, and A24?

Yes, it is feasible for Movies Anywhere to make deals with studios like Paramount, Lionsgate, MGM, and A24 to provide their films to viewers. Movies Anywhere operates as a digital locker service, allowing users to access movies purchased from various platforms in one convenient place. The service has previously partnered with notable studios to aggregate their content, making such collaborations possible.

Business Interests and Negotiations

The likelihood of such deals hinges on several critical factors, including business interests, negotiations, market demand, and existing agreements.

Business Interests: Studios carefully evaluate potential partnerships to align with their distribution strategies and revenue goals. They are likely to only enter into deals that provide significant benefits and align with their overall business plans.

Negotiations: Each studio would need to negotiate terms that are mutually beneficial. This includes revenue sharing, marketing support, and rights management. These negotiations can be complex and time-consuming, but they are necessary to ensure both parties benefit from the collaboration.

Market Demand: Significant consumer demand for films from these studios on the platform could incentivize Movies Anywhere to pursue these partnerships. If viewers express a strong preference for content from these studios, the platforms are more likely to make the effort to include them.

Existing Agreements: The presence of existing agreements with other platforms or services may affect negotiations. Studios need to consider the terms of these agreements and how they might impact any new partnership.

Current Status of Movies Anywhere

As of August 2023, Movies Anywhere had established partnerships with several major studios. However, any new deals would depend on the evolving landscape of digital distribution. It’s important to note that negotiations and partnerships can be fluid and subject to change based on market conditions and studio priorities.

Recent Developments and Petitions

Currently, there is a petition circulating on The World’s Platform for Change aimed at convincing Paramount to join Movies Anywhere. This initiative reflects the growing demand for a centralized streaming and purchasing service that includes a broader range of content.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that in 2017, Paramount reportedly showed interest in partnering with Movies Anywhere but did not proceed at that time. Since then, the digital media landscape has evolved, and new partnerships are possible as long as they meet both parties' needs.

The Role of Other Studios

Other studios, such as Lionsgate and MGM, have their own histories and current business strategies. For example, Lionsgate and Paramount were participants in UltraViolet, a service that competed with Movies Anywhere. In 2019, UltraViolet shut down, and users had the option of transferring their streaming rights to either VUDU or Fandango Now. Since VUDU is now owned by Fandango, all the streaming rights effectively belong to one company in the US, simplifying the process for users.

Additionally, in 2023, it was reported that Amazon now owns MGM. This development makes a deal with MGM unlikely, as their interests are aligned with Amazon’s existing streaming services. This shift in ownership complicates the potential for MGM to join Movies Anywhere, as both companies now have competing interests in digital distribution.

Despite these complexities, the possibility remains that new partnerships could emerge as the digital media landscape continues to evolve. Studios may find it more beneficial to join a centralized service like Movies Anywhere to streamline their distribution and meet the demands of modern viewers.