Amazon’s MGM+ strikes deal for Lionsgate & Starz shows in UK

Outlander

Amazon’s streamer MGM+ has picked up rights to Lionsgate and Starz programming in the UK, marking the latest acquisition deal between the companies.

The move, which follows the decision to close Lionsgate+ in the UK and across Europe, will see shows such as Outlander, the Power franchise, The Serpent Queen and Hightown all becoming available to subscribers.

Lionsgate+ subscribers who joined via Prime Video Channels in the UK will get access to the show this month, with the service set to be rebranded to MGM+ in May. A similar rebrand has already occurred in Europe, Latin America and the US.

The deal is the third installment in a series of content deals that MGM+ has previously struck with Lionsgate for Europe and Lat Am, with the streamer now available in 31 countries.

The service will also become the home to legacy series including The Great, Mad Men, Nashville, Weeds and movies such as American Psycho, Reservoir Dogs and Saw. Many of those shows are already available in the UK – Mad Men, for example, is available on BBC Studios-owned streaming service UKTV Play.

Josh McIvor, global general manager at MGM+, said the deal “cements Amazon’s commitment to invest in and grow the MGM+ channel internationally”.

Chase Brisbin and Kathryn Ikenberry Jones negotiated the deal on behalf of Lionsgate.

Lionsgate split its TV & film studio business from Starz late last year, in a move that valued the production and distribution division at $4.5bn.