NBCU’S PEACOCK UNVEILS FIRST DAY-AND-DATE THEATRICAL RELEASE

NBCUniversal has announced a transition to releasing blockbuster films day-and-date on VOD and in cinemas. The company has confirmed that the upcoming release of family animated feature The Boss Baby: Family Business will  be launched in theaters and on streaming service Peacock on 2nd July. The film will subsequently be made available on premium VOD in October.

The strategy was implemeneted following similar models from Disney and WarnerMedia. The DreamWorks Animation film will be the first launched this way on NBCU’s US-only streaming service, though it will only be available to Premium subscribers. “DreamWorks Animation films, from 'Trolls World Tour' to 'Shrek' and beyond are among Peacock’s top performing titles to date, and we’re certain that The Boss Baby: Family Business is sure to become this summer’s ultimate streaming event," NBCUniversal Direct-to-Consumer and International chairman Matt Strauss, said.

After develping a strong catalog of titles, which include "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation," NBCU’s Peacock now has more than 42 million users – though parent company Comcast has been cagey as to how many of those customers are on the US$4.99-9.99 premium tiers.

Disney+, meanwhile, has opted for additional purchases for its features like "Mulan," "Raya" and the "Last Dragon," while making Pixar’s Soul and "Luca" available at no additional cost. “DreamWorks Animation films, from Trolls World Tour to Shrek and beyond are among Peacock’s top performing titles to date, and we’re certain that The Boss Baby: Family Business is sure to become this summer’s ultimate streaming event," Matt Strauss, NBCU’s direct-to-consumer & international chairman, said.