Studio Distribution Services

Last updated
Studio Distribution Services, LLC
Company type Joint venture
Industry Home video
FoundedApril 23, 2021;4 years ago (2021-04-23)
Headquarters 10 Universal City Plaza, ,
Key people
Eddie Cunningham (president)
ProductsHome video releases
Brands
Owners
Website sds.media

Studio Distribution Services, LLC is an American home entertainment distribution company that is a joint venture between Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Accordingly, SDS distributes all titles handled by Universal and Warner Bros., as well as their respective studios and partners. SDS also distributes films on behalf of STX Entertainment, PBS and Neon. [1]

Contents

The company was created on January 14, 2020, when Universal and Warner Bros. merged their physical home media distribution operations into one entity as part of a 10-year multinational joint-venture partnership. [2] Internationally, Universal distributes Warner Bros.' titles in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Japan; while Warner distributes Universal's titles in the United Kingdom (until 2025), Italy (until 2024) and Benelux. [3] On April 7, 2020, the European Commission approved the merger. [4]

On June 24, 2024, it was reported that Sony Pictures Home Entertainment had entered into a distribution deal with SDS to handle the physical distribution of their titles. [5]

Notes

  1. Via Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment pre-SDS merger.
  2. 1 2 Via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Weprin, Alex (February 20, 2024). "Disney Outsourcing Blu-Ray, DVD Business to Sony". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  2. Hunt, Bill (April 23, 2021). "BILL'S ON THE LATEST HOME THEATER UNITED PODCAST, PLUS AN APPLE DIGITAL PURCHASE LAWSUIT & WARNER AND UNIVERSAL COMBINE THEIR PHYSICAL MEDIA OPERATIONS". thedigitalbits.com. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  3. D'Alessandro, Anthony (15 January 2020). "Universal & Warner Bros. Form Home Entertainment Joint Venture". Deadline. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  4. Gruenwedel, Erik (April 8, 2020). "European Commission Approves Warner, Universal Home Entertainment Joint Venture – Media Play News". Media Play News.
  5. Hunt, Bill (24 June 2024). "Paramount sets Bringing Out the Dead for 4K Ultra HD, plus Sony signs a new distribution deal with SDS that includes Lionsgate, Disney & 20th Century". thedigitalbits.com. Retrieved 25 June 2024.