Quick end to Sony, Netflix beef expected

LOS ANGELES, June 18 (UPI) -- Observers say they expect Netflix and Sony to reach an agreement soon that will make Sony films available again on the U.S. movie subscription service.

Sources close to Sony, Netflix and Starz told The Wall Street Journal they expected the dispute to be resolved fairly quickly.

Starz owns the streaming rights to Sony productions that its supplies to Netflix under a contract that includes a cap on the number of subscribers. The Los Angeles Times said Saturday Starz pulled the movies from Netflix, which has more than 23 million subscribers, to avoid violating the deal with Sony.

"All parties are working diligently to resolve the issue and return these films to Netflix members," Starz said in a written statement.