Bell, Corus in ‘unprecedented’ HBO SVOD deal

Canada’s Bell Media and Corus Entertainment have scored what has been described as an “unprecedented” multiplatform and SVOD agreement with US premium broadcaster HBO.

The deal gives the broadcasting companies exclusive streaming rights to HBO’s entire past-season library for every series the premium cabler currently has on air.

The shows include Veep, Game of Thrones and True Detective (pictured), which will all be available to HBO Canada customers via both linear and non-linear platforms starting this fall. HBO Canada is a multiplex channel of Bell’s The Movie Channel in eastern Canada and Corus’s Movie Central in the west.

Furthermore, all past seasons of these shows will immediately be available to The Movie Network and Movie Central subscribers immediately.

This came shortly before an announcement Bell had acquired HBO’s complete off-air programming catalogue and comprises around 850 hours of scripted programming and hundreds more of movies, stand-up and documentaries.

“With this deal, our premium subscribers will be able to enjoy all of their favourite HBO programs, significantly increasing the value of a subscription to The Movie Network,” said Kevin Crull, President, Bell Media referring to the past-season deal. “Now we can offer even more of what our subscribers want, which is all of HBO’s incredible programming across multiple platforms, including the industry-leading TMN GO.”

“Securing prior seasons of HBO’s hit programs enables our subscribers to view past episodes of current series that they might not have seen from the very first season and positions HBO Canada as the place to see the most talked about series from start to finish,” said John Cassaday, president and CEO, Corus.

The deals are being taken in Canada as a blow for Netflix, which is building a significant English-language subscriber base in the territory.

HBO, meanwhile, has struck similar multi-year agreements with the likes of Sky Atlantic in the UK, Orange in France and Amedia in Russia.

“We are proud of the array of quality programming produced by HBO and it is wonderful to see Bell Media and Corus Entertainment have such appreciation for this catalogue,” said Charles Schreger, president, programming sales, HBO. “It is great to have this robust library made available to subscribers of HBO Canada, further enriching the offering.”