Fox, HBO Re-Up Distribution Deal

All future Die Hard movies released through the next decade will have their premium run on HBO.

The premium channel Tuesday announced a long-term extension of its domestic movie-output deal with Hollywood studio 20th Century Fox.

Terms of the deal -- an extension of a distribution agreement between the two parties that began in the early 1980s -- were not disclosed, but HBO and Fox executives said the agreement extends well into the next decade. The deal includes digital-media rights including broadband and video-on-demand within the HBO movie premium window.

In past years, HBO has distributed such Fox movies as the Die Hard trilogy, the Star Wars franchise and Independence Day.

“This year marks the 25th anniversary since HBO entered into a continuous output deal with Fox, making it our longest-running output relationship with a studio,” HBO co-president Harold Akselrad said in a prepared statement. "Films from Fox have been a part of the HBO offering since the early days of the network, and their consistent success at the box office has made them a valuable part of our programming lineup.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.