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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

Roku In Talks To Acquire Rights To Quibi's Library – Report [deadline.com]

According to the Wall Street Journal [wsj.com], Roku is nearing a deal to buy the content catalog of Quibi, the short-form mobile streaming platform launched by Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman that launched in April 2020 before shuttering in December.

The WSJ reports that Roku would acquire the rights to Quibi's content but the specific details and financial terms of the proposed deal haven't been revealed and the deal could still fall through.

Also at The Verge [theverge.com] and The Wrap [thewrap.com]:

Quibi's deals with its content producers were atypical of other platforms, in that the creators owned their stuff. Quibi's deals allowed for the service to feature those shows on its service for seven years. The WSJ, citing people familiar with the discussions, added that some of the contracts stipulate that the content cannot air on other platforms. However, an individual familiar with Roku's stance argued that it would not prevent Roku from being able to stream the content, the report added.

Roku content includes series like Anna Kendrick's "Dummy," "Most Dangerous Game" starring Liam Hemsworth and Christoph Waltz, as well as Antoine Fuqua's "#FreeRayshawn," which scored a pair of Emmy wins.

Maybe Quibi's carcass will spawn an entertaining short-form lawsuit.

Previously: Meg Whitman-Run Streaming Service "Quibi" Launches, Reception Mixed [soylentnews.org]
The Fall of Quibi: How Did a Starry $1.75bn Netflix Rival Crash So Fast? [soylentnews.org]
Founder Jeffrey Katzenberg and CEO Meg Whitman Announce Impending Death of "Quibi" Streaming Service [soylentnews.org]

Related: Roku Media Player Maker Seeking IPO [soylentnews.org]

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