WarnerMedia is Paying $500 Million For Dibs on J.J. Abrams’ Content For Their Upcoming Streaming Service
According to a report in the New York Times, WarnerMedia is nearing a deal to get exclusive first look rights to projects created by Bad Robot, the media company helmed by J.J. Abrams. The deal with Bad Robot, which has brought series like Westworld, Fringe, and Lost, as well as films like Star Trek: Beyond and “Mission: Impossible” will cover both films, movies, and digital content for the the streaming service.
The announcement comes just months after Apple had Abrams on stage for the announcement of their streaming service Apple TV+. He has worked with musician Sara Bareilles to create a series called Little Voices about a young woman who has to find her voice as a musician and a person as an up-and-coming artist. It had been rumored that NBCUniversal and Apple were also bidding for a similar deal with Bad Robot.
Earlier this month it was revealed that WarnerMedia will launch their streaming service for ~$16-17 which will include Warner Bros. movies, TV shows, HBO, and Cinemax. Currently, HBO and Cinemax are sold individually for $14.99 and $9.99, respectively — but generally discounted if bundled together. The company may make a cheaper ad-supported version of the service sometime in 2020, as well as a pricier option with live TV and sports.