NBC Universal Gets Exclusive Rights to All Wizarding World and Harry Potter Films in 2018

If you're looking for the Harry Potter movies and their new spin-off "Wizarding World" films like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them on television, you'll be looking to NBC Universal channels starting July 2018. The conglomerate gains exclusive access for commercial television and digital rights that month, with a contract set through April 2025.

The contract includes the upcoming Fantastic Beasts series, plus the eight Harry Potter films that Disney currently has on-air rights to (and still does for two more years). The partnership makes sense, since Universal Studios theme parks in Orlando, Los Angeles, and Osaka, Japan already host the Wizarding World of Harry Potter parks within. That arrangement will be strengthened by the new deal, which will include content and events at the theme parks, including screenings and other promotional and fan events.

For the existing Harry Potter films, the cable rights will bring them to NBCU's Syfy and USA networks. Warner Bros. will air director's cuts of Deathly Hallows part 1 and 2, and 3D versions of those films on the cable channels, as well as a featurette previously only on the Blu-ray and DVD editions as bonus content.

The Wall Street Journal made the announcement Monday morning, estimating the deal's worth at $250 million.