As Universal ’s pay TV partnership with HBO expires at year’s end, the studio’s streaming service Peacock will officially take its place starting in 2022.

All Universal Filmed Entertainment Group’s theatrical releases starting next year will play on Peacock during each pic’s pay-one partner TV window, which is 120 days after a title’s theatrical release. Each movie will become available on Peacock for an initial exclusive four-month window followed by the last four months in a traditional 18-month pay-one period.  During those middle ten months, the studio’s film product will be licensed to additional partners. Prior to the pandemic, theatrical releases typically hit pay cable channels some 200 days following their theatrical release. Under the new Peacock deal, there’s a significant window crunch. I’m told that all UFEG movies will go though a typical PVOD and home entertainment sell-through and rental window before arriving at Peacock.

I’m told that his segmentation has not been done before in the traditional pay-one window. By Uni showcasing content across multiple platforms throughout the first 18 months, their titles will refresh across the streaming sphere so that no title or platform is oversaturated. Universal is also currently developing original movies exclusively for Peacock which will debut next year as well.

The deal covers all Universal, Focus Features, Illumination, and DreamWorks Animation theatrical releases. Note, the studio’s recent half-billion grossing hit  F9  will go to HBO in its first pay TV window. The 2022 Universal slate includes  Jurassic World: Dominion ; Jordan Peele’s new genre pic, DWA’s  The Bad Guys and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish as well as Illuminaton’s Minions: The Rise of Gru .

“Since launching Peacock just one year ago, we have seen incredible viewership of movies and continue to expand our catalog with a range of films for every fan and occasion,” said Matt Strauss, Chairman, Direct-to-Consumer and International, NBCUniversal in a statement. “Universal Filmed Entertainment Group has been a fantastic partner and we are excited to not only bring their amazing slate of blockbuster films and beloved franchises to Peacock in the first-pay window, but also provide a steady stream of fresh, original films exclusively for Peacock customers throughout the year.”

“This new dynamic Pay-One agreement demonstrates UFEG’s continued commitment to building a film ecosystem that allows filmmakers and artists to reach the broadest possible audience, celebrates and strengthens the theatrical experience, and, above all, empowers fans to experience the films they love on their own terms,” said Peter Levinsohn, Vice Chairman and Chief Distribution Officer, UFEG. “We’re excited to become Peacock’s first Pay-One partner while the platform continues to curate and build a vast film library that will delight its rapidly growing subscriber base.”