MUBI signs deals with Sony, Hopscotch, HanWay

VOD service MUBI has signed a spate of deals, including a significant output contract with Sony which will see the platform pre-loaded on all connected Sony Bravia TVs in 58 countries across Europe, Brazil, Mexico and Australia/New Zealand. The deal builds on an existing contract between the two companies through which MUBI is available on Sony’s PS3 games consoles.

The independent cinema specialist also announced the launch of a premium VOD option in Australia in conjunction with Hopscotch, which will see the Australian distributor’s titles available on the platform day and date with their local DVD releases. Pierre Thoreton’s Yves Saint Laurent documentary L’amour Fou will be the first title available (July 21) in the partnership at a price of A$6.95.

In one of its largest content deals, MUBI has signed a deal with UK sales outfit HanWay Films to distribute its library, including titles from Bernardo Bertolucci, Woody Allen, Peter Weir, and Wim Wenders, the Merchant Ivory collection, and a selection of 50 films from the British Film Institute.

In a technical first outside the US, the company has also inked a deal with Dolby to provide 5.1 channel surround sound audio streaming by the third quarter of 2011.

The announcements come on the day MUBI launches a free retrospective of 112 Critics’ Week films on its platform, in celebration of the Cannes programme’s 50th anniversary.

Speaking exclusively to Screen, MUBI CEO Efe Cakarel said of the deals: “These are exciting times for MUBI.  I want to watch every great film day and date on any device instantly.  And we are one step closer to making this a reality.”

Backed by Hengameh Panahi’s Celluloid Dreams, The Criterion Collection and Costa Films and supported by the MEDIA programme, MUBI has close to 5000 titles, 1.4m registered members and offices in London, Paris and Buenos Aires.