{"id":107813,"date":"2024-09-28T06:10:48","date_gmt":"2024-09-27T23:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=107813"},"modified":"2024-09-28T06:10:48","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T23:10:48","slug":"sky-uk-dispute-over-harry-potter-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=107813","title":{"rendered":"Sky UK Dispute Over &#8216;Harry Potter&#8217; Series"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t<strong>(Updated 3:33 pm PT with WBD statement on lawsuit) <\/strong>No magic wand is going to make the latest legal fight <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/warner-bros-discovery-2\/\" id=\"auto-tag_warner-bros-discovery-2\" data-tag=\"warner-bros-discovery-2\">Warner Bros Discovery<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/david-zaslav\/\" id=\"auto-tag_david-zaslav\" data-tag=\"david-zaslav\">David Zaslav<\/a> find themselves in go away, even if <em><a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/harry-potter\/\" id=\"auto-tag_harry-potter\" data-tag=\"harry-potter\">Harry Potter<\/a> <\/em>is a part of the corporate skirmish.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tUp against the NBA and Amazon over basketball rights, and losing traction in the court-paused launch of Venu sports streamer, WBD today finds itself blasted by a lawsuit from <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/comcast\/\" id=\"auto-tag_comcast\" data-tag=\"comcast\">Comcast<\/a>-owned <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/sky\/\" id=\"auto-tag_sky\" data-tag=\"sky\">Sky<\/a> UK and others over a TV deal that looks to have withered on the contractual vine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t\u201cWarner has repeatedly failed to offer Sky the annually required minimum number of contractually qualifying series for its consideration,\u201d says the hard hitting complaint filed Friday in federal court in New York of a 2019 deal the parties inked. \u201cSpecifically, Warner was obligated to present Sky with at least four shows per year across 2021, 2022, and 2023 but undisputedly fell far short of that mark, in certain years offering barely a single qualifying series while also withholding critical, contractually required information necessary for Sky to evaluate any potential options that it did receive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/sky-WBD-Harry-Potter.pdf\">Read Sky\u2019s lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery over TV shows like Harry Potter &amp; more here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tOn the surface, the jury seeking-filing from Sky accuses WBD of trying to pull off a very clumsy sleight of hand trick.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tPretty straightforward, right?<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tHowever, pouring vinegar further into the corporate wine, the Sky complaint also comes as the longtime output deals for <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/hbo\/\" id=\"auto-tag_hbo\" data-tag=\"hbo\">HBO<\/a> in the UK, Italy and Germany are due to expire in 2025, paving the way for struggling streamer <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/max\/\" id=\"auto-tag_max\" data-tag=\"max\">Max<\/a> to launch in those key territories. It is those very markets that European-focused Sky believes it is being deprived of enjoying the 20-year-long financial fruits from WBD TV series and the disintegration of the now five-year-old deal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tOn top of that, the new lawsuit potentially puts the kibosh on the charm offensive efforts that WBD CEO Zaslav has been on for the past several years with<em> Potter<\/em> author <a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/j-k-rowling\/\" id=\"auto-tag_j-k-rowling\" data-tag=\"j-k-rowling\">J.K. Rowling<\/a>, even as Zas was one of the few Tinseltown types to stick with the writer through her controversial and sometimes out-and-out confusing opinions on trans individuals.  Certainly, unless this is settled very soon, today\u2019s action will at least slow down the debut of the \u201c10 consecutive years\u201d planned <em>Harry Potter<\/em> TV series that is<a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2024\/09\/harry-potter-tv-series-max-release-date-cast-1235323284\/\"> set to debut on HBO in 2026<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tHaving been essentially blown off by WBD last year when the official announcement of the long anticipated<em> Potter <\/em>series was made, Sky is naming the Voldemort in this dispute now.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t\u201cThis misconduct has deprived Sky of its bargained-for opportunity to co-fund, co-produce, and subsequently exploit exclusively in UK and European territories all manner of top-end Warner content,\u201d the 36-page complaint from the Euro Pay TV giant states. \u201cIf all that were not enough, Warner has now even brazenly denied Sky its right to partner on Warner\u2019s highly valuable decade-long, tentpole television series adapting J.K. Rowling\u2019s iconic <em>Harry Potter<\/em> novels, set to premiere in 2026 or 2027,\u201d it adds. \u201cInstead, Warner has largely disregarded the parties\u2019 agreement and sought to keep the Harry Potter content for itself so that Warner can use it as the cornerstone of the launch of its Max streaming service in Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tFor WBD, the reaction today was to cast aspersions\u00a0on the very premise of the Sky suit itself. <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t\u201cThe HBO and Max licensing agreements expire at the end of 2025, and this lawsuit is a baseless attempt by Sky and Comcast to try and gain leverage in its negotiations for our programming beyond that date,\u201d a WBD spokesperson said in response Friday. <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t\u201cWe know HBO-branded shows are critical to Sky, as evidenced by their desire for over a year to find a way to renew our agreements, and this lawsuit makes it clear that Sky is deeply concerned about the viability of its business were it to lose our award-winning content,\u201d the partially John Malone-owned WBD added. \u201cWBD will vigorously defend itself from this unfounded lawsuit as we move forward undeterred with plans to launch Max, including the new HBO <em>Harry Potter<\/em> series, in the UK and other European markets in 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tStill, in case there is any nuance to be asserted here, the opening graphs of the 2019 deal literally says: \u201cFor each calendar year from 2021 through 2025, Sky shall be presented with all qualifying HBO MAX original series (and not less than four (4) in any event) that are: (i) one hour slot length in duration per episode; (ii) intended to be multi-season; (iii) produced by WBTV or HBO MAX for premiere on HBO MAX; and (iv) which are ordered within the applicable year to a first season (each a \u201cSeries\u201d). Sky shall select a minimum of two (2) new Series per year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tPretty straightforward, especially for a lawyer like Zas. <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tIn its filing, Sky wants unspecified \u201ccompensatory and consequential damages\u201d from WBD, plus a court declaration that the deal with the Comcast-owned company was \u201cbreached.\u201d To get very specific, Sky also wants: \u201cAn order requiring Defendant Warner to immediately submit the <em>Harry Potter <\/em>Series for Plaintiff Sky\u2019s consideration in accordance with the terms of the Co-Funding Agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tHaving said that, as is often the case, companies can fight, but they can co-exist too for their mutual benefit. As Sky, which was purchased by Philadelphia-based Comcast in 2018 for around $40 billion, made clear in a statement provided to Deadline today about the so-called Potter suit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t\u201cWe continue to work constructively with Warner Brothers Discovery and have a separate agreement in place that will ensure Sky customers continue to enjoy HBO shows, including new seasons, such as <em>House of the Dragon<\/em>, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/the-last-of-us\/\" id=\"auto-tag_the-last-of-us\" data-tag=\"the-last-of-us\">The Last of Us<\/a><\/em>, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/tag\/the-white-lotus\/\" id=\"auto-tag_the-white-lotus\" data-tag=\"the-white-lotus\">The White Lotus<\/a> <\/em>and <em>Euphoria,<\/em> along with exciting new releases such as <em>Dune: Prophecy, <\/em>and many more for years to come,\u201d a Sky spokesperson said Friday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tWBD, on the other hand, had nothing to say over this latest lawsuit. If the company does respond to request for comment from Deadline, this post will be updated. Worth noting that WBD shares rose 1% in light trading Friday and then dipped a fraction after hours after the news of this lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\tOr, as Dumbledore once said and Comcast may be quoting today: \u201cIt takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto     \">\n\t<em>Dade Hayes contributed to this report<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2024\/09\/comcast-sky-warner-bros-discovery-lawsuit-harry-potter-1236102048\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Updated 3:33 pm PT with WBD statement on lawsuit) No magic wand is going to make the latest legal fight Warner Bros Discovery and David Zaslav find themselves in go &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=107813\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-107813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-entertainment","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=107813"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107813\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=107813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=107813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=107813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}