Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and Comcast's Sky have reached a settlement in their legal dispute over content partnership rights, including the upcoming Harry Potter series. The resolution comes alongside a renewed distribution agreement between the media giants.
According to court documents filed Monday, both companies agreed to dismiss all claims, with each party covering their own legal fees and costs. The specific terms of the settlement remain undisclosed.
The lawsuit, initiated by Sky in September, centered on a 2019 agreement requiring WBD to offer Sky co-production opportunities on at least four shows annually between 2021 and 2025. Sky claimed WBD had failed to meet these obligations and specifically sought to retain exclusive control over the Harry Potter series for its Max streaming platform in Europe.
The settlement coincides with a broader distribution deal renewal between the companies. Under the new arrangement, Comcast will gain rights to include ad-supported versions of Max and Discovery+ in its streaming packages, while the anticipated Harry Potter series will be available on Sky in the United Kingdom.
The original dispute highlighted Sky's contractual rights to co-produce selected shows with budgetary commitments ranging from 20% to 25% for first seasons, including "life-of-series" rights for subsequent seasons.
The resolution marks a new chapter in the relationship between the media companies, with both parties emphasizing their commitment to delivering content across multiple platforms. The agreement enables Comcast to continue offering WBD's network portfolio, including channels like TNT, TBS, CNN, and Discovery, to its customers.
Dana Strong, Sky's Group CEO, emphasized that the combination of partner content and Sky Originals strengthens their entertainment offerings in the UK and Ireland markets.
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