Universal Bets on Atari, Sony Takes Ramayana Worldwide, Amazon Locks Down NHL, NBCU bundles Peacock into YouTube Premium, and more…

This week, the entertainment industry doubled down on franchise IP, global distribution, and strategic platform partnerships.

From Universal’s acquisition of Atari game rights and Sony taking Ramayana worldwide to Amazon securing NHL streaming rights and NBCUniversal bundling Peacock with YouTube Premium, the week’s biggest developments highlight how studios are expanding the reach of premium IP across theatrical, streaming, sports, and international markets.

Want to discover who’s acquiring similar IP, forming strategic partnerships, investing in new markets, or expanding production worldwide? Ask VIQI.

Rebelle Media and MGM Television have acquired the screen rights to adapt Sarah Adams’ popular romantic book series When in Rome. Set in the fictional small town of Rome, Kentucky, the multi-book franchise begins with the story of a burnt-out pop star who finds unexpected romance with a local baker after her car breaks down. [United States]

What is Rebelle Media’s full development slate beyond the MGM Television projects?

Belgian distributor Primitives has secured the first international adaptation for its reality adventure format ‘The Expedition’ with broadcaster France Télévisions. The French local version, which features eight celebrities navigating extreme environments, was produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production France and is scheduled to air during the upcoming winter season. (🇧🇪)

Universal Pictures acquired the film rights to ten classic Atari games, including ‘Asteroids’ and ‘Pong’, partnering with Atari and Entertainment 360. A block-buster adventure film based on a spec script by Matt Reilly and Carl Hampe is already in development. (USA)

Production has begun on the third season of the hit drama series Saint-Pierre, produced by Hawco Productions for Canadian broadcaster CBC, with Fifth Season handling global distribution. Slated to premiere in winter 2027, the 12-episode installment welcomes new cast members Assaad Bouab and Caroline Dhavernas alongside returning leads Allan Hawco and Joséphine Jobert. [Canada, United States]

What original drama series and co-productions has Canadian public broadcaster CBC greenlit for upcoming seasons?

Acorn TV has renewed its hit crime drama Art Detectives for a second season following a record-breaking series debut. Starring Stephen Moyer and Nina Singh, the eight-episode order begins production in Northern Ireland this month and will kick off with a two-part special in December before returning with six episodes next year. [United States, United Kingdom]

Netflix has confirmed the production of a sixth season of Sony Pictures Television’s Spanish-language drama Rosario Tijeras, which is currently filming in Colombia. Starring Bárbara de Regil across 40 new episodes, the upcoming season sees the title character infiltrate a powerful criminal network and benefits from Colombia’s CINA tax incentive. [United States, Colombia]

Parallax Films has acquired international sales rights for Private Property, a new short film directed by Deepak Rauniyar and Asha Magrati, ahead of its world premiere at the 79th Locarno Film Festival. The multi-country co-production stars Magrati as a Nepali immigrant at a gas station who gets drawn into a tense conflict with an unhoused veteran. [China, United States]

What feature films or festival projects have co-directors Deepak Rauniyar and Asha Magrati collaborated on?

Boutique sales agency FiGa Films has acquired worldwide sales rights to Guatemalan drama Nosotros ahead of its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Directed by Joaquín Ruano, the Guatemala-Mexico co-production explores a forbidden connection between a private security guard and a trans woman navigating societal violence and prejudice. [United States, Guatemala]

Sony Pictures has acquired international distribution rights outside India for “Ramayana”, a two-part mythological epic directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Prime Focus Studios. Featuring an all-star cast including Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi, the multi-language production will be distributed domestically in India by Dharma Productions ahead of its November release. [United States, India]

Amazon Prime Video has secured a 12-year sublicensing agreement with Rogers Communications for exclusive English and French Wednesday night NHL broadcast rights in Canada. Beginning September 30, the streamer will broadcast 26 regular-season games alongside first and second-round playoff series following the end of the CBC’s historic Hockey Night in Canada sublicensing arrangement. [United States, Canada]

What is Rogers Sports & Media’s current content acquisition and commissioning strategy for scripted and unscripted programming?

UK-based streaming platform Amavizion has acquired several hundred hours of Argentinian telenovelas through a new content agreement with international distributor Dori Media Group. The deal kicks off with popular Pol-ka productions Esperanza Mía and Las Estrellas, adding 363 dubbed episodes to Amavizion’s pay-per-view catalog. [United Kingdom, Israel]

UK-based streaming platform Amavizion has acquired several hundred hours of Argentinian telenovelas through a new content agreement with international distributor Dori Media Group. The deal kicks off with popular Pol-ka productions Esperanza Mía and Las Estrellas, adding 363 dubbed episodes to Amavizion’s pay-per-view catalog. [United Kingdom, Israel]

NBCUniversal and YouTube have established a major wholesale agreement to bundle Peacock with YouTube Premium starting in early 2027 while extending NBCU’s distribution deal with YouTube TV. The partnership allows domestic YouTube Premium users to access Peacock directly through the platform and expands international access to NBCU streaming brands Universal+ and Hayu. [United States]

What international markets has NBCU’s Universal+ platform expanded into recently?

Prime Video India and South Korean media giant CJ ENM have signed a multi-year distribution deal to bring over 100 Korean titles to the streamer’s Indian platform over the next two years. The agreement includes 26 new releases alongside library content, with titles featuring English subtitles and dubbing in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. [India, South Korea]

Canal+ reported a 40% increase in half-year revenue to €4.29 billion, heavily driven by its $2 billion acquisition of African pay-TV giant MultiChoice. The group achieved half of its €250 million synergy target following cost-reduction measures, which included discontinuing MultiChoice’s streaming service Showmax. [France, South Africa]

ABC Commercial has expanded its international footprint by launching four Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channels on LG Smart TVs across North America, Europe, Great Britain, and Asia. Available via the LG Channels app, the multi-territory rollout delivers curated Australian entertainment, factual, lifestyle, and children’s programming to global viewers without requiring a subscription. [Australia, South Korea]

What FAST channel distribution deals has ABC Commercial secured on major smart TV platforms recently?

US digital platform Fandango has expanded and rebranded its free AVoD streaming service, introducing account-free guest viewing, one-click playback, and over 3,500 hours of new content. Operating under the tagline “We Love Free,” the updated multi-platform experience now offers curated films, TV shows, and live Bundesliga sports coverage to US audiences. [United States]

Cultural platform Gold House has launched Gold House Studios to develop and produce original and IP-driven film, television, and digital media projects centered on Asian Pacific talent. Led by Christine Yi and Brian Nemes, the studio’s debut slate includes the feature films Akiya and This Way to Home, the horror TV series American Yokai, and a film adaptation of the Japanese video game Slitterhead. [United States]