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Enlarge ImageDisney/Lucasfilm
The Force will awaken on Sky as the UK satellite broadcaster renews its deal with Disney to show Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars movies.
Sky’s Movie channels have long had a stranglehold on new movies making their TV debut, including Disney films. That’s set to continue with new releases including “Inside Out”, “The Good Dinosaur” and, perhaps most significantly, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, the first Star Wars film from Disney, which hits cinemas this Christmas.
Disney owns Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm films and TV shows, which will continue on Sky’s Disney Channel. Sky did not reveal the financial terms of the deal.
Each new release will be on Sky in its first pay TV window, which is roughly nine months after the cinema release. They’ll be in high definition and, where relevant, 3D.
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That means you won’t be seeing new Disney-related movies on Netflix or elsewhere before they’re on Sky. The good news though is that since the advent of Now TV, Sky’s wallet-friendly online on-demand and catch-up service, you no longer need a lengthy contract or dish bolted on your house to enjoy Sky Movies, Sky Sports or Sky TV channels.
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- New ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ teaser, new Jedi in action
- Reasons to get excited for ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’
- We can’t wait to fly the Millennium Falcon at Disneyland
- The fascinating stories of the X-Wing extras who were never stars, but were in ‘Star Wars’
If you’re desperate to see new films on your TV before then, you can buy the DVD or Blu-ray, or buy or rent from an online service such as iTunes.
The deal also covers TV shows from Disney such as “Liv and Maddie”, “Doc McStuffins” and “Star Wars Rebels”. Sky says the new deal will expand the number of Disney Channel shows available on catch-up and on-demand, for no extra cost. That will also include more grown-up fare from ABC Studios such as “Scandal” and “Grey’s Anatomy”.
Older movies, such as “Frozen”, “Toy Story” and the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, will continue to be available on-demand.
