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United International Pictures (UIP)
Organisation

United International Pictures (UIP)

The Paramount/Universal film-distribution joint venture Paramount is exiting to win EU merger approval.

Last refreshed: 15 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

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Common Questions
What is United International Pictures?
A London-based film distribution joint venture between Paramount and Universal, handling releases outside the US and Canada.
Why is Paramount leaving UIP?
Paramount committed to exiting the joint venture as a condition of EU approval for its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
When was UIP founded?
It was reorganised as UIP in 1981, building on a 1970 predecessor structure between Paramount and Universal.

Background

United International Pictures (UIP) is a London-based film distribution joint venture, formed in 1981 from a predecessor structure (Cinema International Corporation, set up in 1970) that let Paramount and Universal pool their international distribution outside the US and Canada. UIP operates its own distribution offices in 19 territories, with licensees covering a further 44.

The venture has narrowed over time: MGM/United Artists films Left UIP's REMIT in 2001, and Universal has since carved out independent distribution in several markets, leaving UIP focused on a smaller set of European territories. Its current relevance is regulatory rather than creative: Paramount Skydance has committed to exiting UIP entirely as a condition of winning EU clearance for its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

The exit is one of the concrete remedies tied to the EU's parallel merger clocks running through July 2026, alongside the Gulf-equity review.