NBCU Int’l signs with Alibaba

NBCUniversal International has forged a licensing agreement with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.

Kevin MacLellan

The multi-year deal includes titles from Universal Pictures’ new-release and library slate, available on Alibaba’s fledgling TMall Box Office service from this month.

Included in the agreement are blockbuster movies Fast & Furious 7 and Jurassic World, which were also box office hits in China, as well as Minions, set for a 3D release in China on September 13.

Alibaba launched SVoD service TMall Box Office back in June with ambitious aims to become a Chinese version of HBO and Netflix. It offers a mixture of Chinese and international content.

Kevin MacLellan, chairman of NBCUniversal International, said: “This partnership will continue to increase our reach in the market, as well as driving additional revenues for us in Asia.”

The agreement is part of NBCUniversal’s ongoing plans to expand its businesses outside of the US, particularly in consumer growth markets such as China, where SVoD is forecast to grow rapidly in the next few years.