Netflix Inks Canadian Output Deal With The Walt Disney Studios

The new deal will see movies from Disney, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm stream on Netflix Canada eight months after they leave theaters.

TORONTO – Netflix and The Walt Disney Studios on Thursday unveiled a multi-year licensing agreement for the Canadian market.

The deal makes Netflix Canada, which increasingly butts heads for viewers with local broadcasters and content carriers, the exclusive Canadian pay TV window for first-run Disney live-action and animated feature films.

The new agreement casts a wide net over a host of popular Disney products, including from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Disneynature and DreamWorks Studios.

As part of the deal, Netflix Canada subscribers will gain access to new releases from The Walt Disney Studios and other suppliers around eight months after they leave theaters.

That's faster than the traditional Canadian premium pay TV model, according to Netflix.

"We are delighted to be the new pay TV home in Canada for the world's highest-quality, most imaginative and entertaining films," said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix, in a statement on Thursday.

"We are absolutely thrilled that Canadian Netflix subscribers will be able to experience Disney's premium films in the pay TV window," added Dan Cohen, executive vice president, pay television and digital at Disney-ABC Domestic Television, in his own statement.

Netflix launched its Canadian service in 2010 and also features first-run pay TV movies from Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox.

That comes on top of original TV series like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black that have helped steadily drive up the Canadian subscriber base for the U.S. video streaming giant.