This just in via The Wall Street Journal — Epix has agreed to give Netflix online distribution rights. This means movies such as “Iron Man 2,” “The Expendables,” and “Star Trek” will be available next month as streaming content to your PC or TV.
Yesterday, The Los Angeles Times wrote that Netflix and Epix were working on a partnership that could “transform the landscape” for distribution of digital movies. The article said the deal would cost Netflix close to $1 billion for the length of the contract.
Movies, according to the LA Times, would become available to stream on Netflix around the same time Epix would start airing movies, which is usually several months after the DVD/Blu-ray Discs are released. The deal is said not to affect streaming content on Epix.com.
Epix, formed by Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, has had it’s fair share of troubles getting distribution to compete with premium channels such as Showtime and HBO. (The channel would have reached between 3 million and 4 million homes by the end of the summer.) However, this agreement puts Epix in approximately 15 million more homes who subscribe to Netflix.
The distribution agreement will also give Netflix a push as well as the whole streaming video format in general. No word yet on whether or not the Epix titles will be offered all or partially in high-definition.
