Disney Inks Deal With Comcast to Sell Digital Movies
Comcast cable customers will now be able to purchase a selection of Disney’s new releases and library films, under a new licensing pact between the companies.
Starting Tuesday, Comcast customers can buy “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which was released on digital HD last week, directly from their TVs or via the Xfinity TV website.
Movies covered under the deal will come from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Disneynature and Touchstone Pictures. Titles will include feature films from Disney franchises such as “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Disney-Pixar’s “Toy Story” and “Finding Nemo,” and newer releases like “Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Pixar’s “The Good Dinosaur” and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen.”
Comcast launched the Xfinity On Demand digital store in 2013, which competes with electronic sell-through services including Apple iTunes, Amazon Video and Google Play. The service includes programming from 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros.
As part of the agreement with Disney, Comcast will become a participating retailer for Disney Movies Anywhere, with a launch date to be announced. Disney Movies Anywhere is a U.S.-only digital locker that lets consumers buy movies online and watch them across multiple devices and platforms, via participating services, as well as get access to special content and rewards.
“We are excited to expand our digital store offering with the incredible selection of titles from The Walt Disney Studios’ portfolio,” Nancy Spears, VP of digital media distribution and monetization for Comcast Cable, said in a statement. “Disney films appeal to all generations, and now our customers will be able to easily add them to their digital collection to watch when and where they want.”
Movies or TV shows bought through Comcast’s Xfinity On Demand store show up in a “purchases” menu on a customer’s TV, and are available to watch online at xfinity.com/store and on apps for iOS and Android devices. Content can be streamed when a device is connected to the Internet or downloaded for disconnected viewing.