Sony to remove some bought StudioCanal videos from UK PlayStation libraries
Sony says UK PlayStation customers will lose streaming access to 551 StudioCanal titles on Sept. 1 because of licensing terms.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Sony has told PlayStation customers in the UK that 551 StudioCanal movies and shows they previously bought through the PlayStation Store will no longer be available to stream after Sept. 1. The change matters because it shows how digital “purchases” can depend on licensing deals that customers do not control.
In a legal notice, Sony said the affected titles are being removed “due to our content licensing agreements.” PlayStation LifeStyle first reported the notice, according to Ars Technica.
The list includes titles such as Outrage: Way of the Yakuza, Paddington, Paddington 2, Pan’s Labyrinth, Rambo 3, Terminator 2: Judgment Day and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Sony’s notice says UK users who bought affected StudioCanal titles will see them removed from their PlayStation libraries in September.
Ars Technica reported that Sony could still reach a new arrangement with StudioCanal before or after the deadline. A similar reversal happened in 2023, when Sony initially said it would remove 1,318 seasons of Discovery programming from customer libraries, then later said the shows would remain available after it revised licensing terms with Discovery.
There is also recent precedent for Sony going through with removals. Ars Technica reported that Sony removed 314 StudioCanal titles from customer libraries in Germany and Austria in 2022. The company also deleted users’ Funimation digital libraries after deciding to combine Funimation with Crunchyroll, according to Ars Technica.
Sony has been reducing its role in selling and renting video through PlayStation for several years. The Verge reported that Sony stopped offering new movie and TV rentals and purchases on the PlayStation Store in August 2021.
The UK StudioCanal notice adds to a broader consumer complaint about digital media stores: customers may click a button labeled as a purchase, but their access can still depend on the platform’s right to distribute the work. Ars Technica described such transactions as long-term licenses rather than ownership of the video file or the underlying work.
The announcement has drawn complaints from some PlayStation customers online, including calls for refunds and objections to storefront language that describes licensed access as a purchase. Ars Technica pointed to Reddit comments from users arguing that digital stores should be clearer about what buyers receive when they pay for movies or shows.
Sony’s notice does not say whether affected UK customers will receive refunds or other compensation. It also does not say whether negotiations with StudioCanal are continuing.
This story draws on original reporting from Ars Technica.