Netflix, EPIX deal is official; Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate movies start streaming September 1
By Richard Lawler 
posted August 10th 2010 8:32AM
posted August 10th 2010 8:32AM
Update: Analyst Dan Rayburn claims on Business of Video that Netflix won't be getting any EPIX movies in HD, so we asked Netflix VP of Corporate Communications Steve Swasey whether we could expect HD streaming movies with Movie Parties or if they would have Starz-like restrictions. The answer? "HD over time and no restrictions on Party Viewing." Take from that what you will.
EPIX AND NETFLIX ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE INTERNET-ONLY DEAL TO INSTANTLY STREAM EPIX MOVIES TO NETFLIX MEMBERS
NEW YORK and BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., August 10, 2010 – EPIX™ and Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] today announced an agreement through which Netflix members can instantly watch an array of new releases and library titles from EPIX streamed over the Internet from Netflix. Movies from the multi-year deal will begin streaming from Netflix on September 1 and include movies from Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM.
EPIX has subscription pay TV rights to new releases and movies from the libraries of its partners and will make these movies available to Netflix 90 days after their premium pay TV and subscription on demand debuts. Historically, the rights to distribute these films are pre-sold to pay TV for as long as nine years after their theatrical release.
For Netflix, the agreement is a significant step in building the company's streaming offer, adding many popular movie titles from some of the world's leading studios. It adds meaningfully to a growing library of movies and TV shows that can be watched instantly on TVs via a range of leading consumer electronic devices capable of streaming from Netflix and on computers.
For EPIX, the deal reflects the value of the EPIX platform which, from its start, has provided new rights and flexibility for the distribution of its movies. The agreement allows EPIX to continue the distribution of popular content on a variety of platforms and preserve the premium television, subscription on demand and online window reserved for cable, satellite and telco television partners.
"Adding EPIX to our growing library of streaming content, as the exclusive Internet-only distributor of this great content, marks the continued emergence of Netflix as a leader in entertainment delivered over the Web," said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix. "The EPIX deal is an example of the innovative ways in which we're partnering with major content providers to broaden the scope and freshness of choices available to our members to watch instantly over the Internet."
Mark Greenberg, president of EPIX, added: "Netflix is an incredibly popular service and we welcome them as our newest distribution partner. We are pleased to be able to continue our mission of bringing consumers the movies where they want to watch them, while satisfying the differing needs of cable, telco and satellite operators. This deal also underscores the tremendous value of our offerings in the marketplace."
About Netflix
With more than 15 million members, Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) is the world's largest subscription service streaming movies and TV episodes over the Internet and sending DVDs by mail. For $8.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited TV episodes and movies streamed to their TVs and computers and can receive unlimited DVDs delivered quickly to their homes. With Netflix, there are never any due dates or late fees. Members can select from a growing library of titles that can be watched instantly and a vast array of titles on DVD. Among the large and expanding base of devices that can stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix are Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PS3 and Nintendo's Wii consoles; Blu-ray disc players from Samsung, LG and Insignia; Internet TVs from LG, Sony and VIZIO; the Roku digital video player and TiVo digital video recorders, and Apple's iPad tablet. For more information, visit http://www.netflix.com.
About EPIX
EPIX, a joint venture between Viacom Inc. [NYSE: VIA and VIA.B], its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate [NYSE: LGF], is a next-generation premium entertainment channel, on-demand and online service. EPIX provides a powerful entertainment experience with more feature films on demand and online and more HD movies than any other service. It is the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up of new Hollywood titles, classic feature films, original series, music and comedy specials through the linear channel, on-demand and online. EPIX has made the commitment to deliver the industry's most expansive online collection of movies, making more than 3,000 titles available to subscribers this year. The service is available to over 30 million homes nationwide through carriage agreements with Verizon FiOS, DISH Network, Cox Communications, Mediacom Communications, Charter Communications and NCTC. For more information about EPIX, go to www.EpixHD.com
Woohoo!!!
@Michael Scrip
......Woohoo!!! (delayed 90 days)
@mopey -- "delayed 90 days"
So what? It means more movies on the streaming service I actually subscribe to!
@Michael Scrip
It also means that movies that were released 90 days ago and still super expensive at the store (so you don't want to buy them) will now be available to stream...any time, any day at the Netflix included price, not the pay-per-view price.
@theweeklymancast dave maybe I read that wrong....but I thought it was 90 days after channels like HBO, Cinemax, showtime, etc....if its 90 days after release then thats not bad at all.....the next question is how long will it stay there
@Michael Scrip
The 90 day delay is a fact buddy, relax. It doesnt take away from the (good) news, hence the comment.
@mopey
Sorry... you made it sound like the 90 day is a bad thing.
I just want MORE movies... no matter when they come.
You see... I pay for Netflix... and I'd like more streaming titles available.
That is all.
@Michael Scrip
i agree, more streaming titles would be great, i don't want to wait for dvds in the mail.
I got veryyy excited about this until realizing the 90 day delay and even that i was okay with until i found out its 90 days after its available on tv.. which could be up to a year after its on dvd sometimes.. PLUS 90 days. making it over a year delay for some films still.
Don't let me down any more Netflix.. I'm already on the verge of canceling you.
@schultz 90 days is awesome! Hell I'd also be happy even if it was 365 days after. I was shocked when I found 2012 movie in the instant queue, I guess Netflix already has similar deal with other movie studios.
@schultz
Maybe not. Remember, last month there were talks of releasing movies to VOD services in as little as 30 days after the initial release in theaters. Granted, it was still outrageously expensive but that would mean you would get it on streaming about the same time it came out on DVD or blu-ray.
It's 90 days after the movies air on HBO, Showtime, etc. Which already has a 90+ day delay. So Netflix wont be seeing these movies for almost 6-12 months later.
It used to be we saw them the day they became available, now we're seeing them almost a year out. This REALLY stinks.
Finally, NETFlix begins to live up to its name. Otherwise they shopuld have called it DiscFlix or MailFlix. I do expect the price to go up, but I also expect a streaming-only option.
That much choice can never be good XD
@yeoldgreat1 Including Man on Wire. Starring Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson and Sam. Fucking L Jackson.
Maybe the studios are realizing that unless their movies are available for instant watching on Netflix, a lot of people just won't watch them.
@cobaltage Maybe they realize that this way most people won't bother torrenting their movies. I'm happy to pay $10 a month and get as many movies streamed to my TIVO as I want. Currently waiting for a blue-ray disk in the mail for a week is a pain, especially if it's on the "very long wait" list...
netflix keeps getting better and better.
Very good! They also need to brush up on more HD content. Love Netflix.
Is this like the Starz deal where the movies get yanked after a a few months? If so that sort of deflates my enthusiasm.
@minimalist ".....those kinds of high profile flicks will show up and stick around with greater regularity than we've been used to...."
@minimalist
The Starz deal is better since the movies come on Netflix the moment they arrive on Starz. This deal is 90 days AFTER that.
I'm not sure why anyone is happy for this. It's a horrible deal for subscribers. They should have inked them to be available day of DVD/Blu release. Otherwise people will just pick them up from Redbook 6 months earlier for $1.
@(Unverified) NO that is a bad idea, If it was the same day then Netflix would have to raise the rates to get more money
@Tvaddic
Raising rates is an inevitability. There is no way Netflix can afford to provide every movie and TV show ever made 24/7/365 for 9 dollars a month. Even if they wanted to, studios will not allow their content to be devalued like that.
I'm willing to pay more for better content but I'm not sure other people care enough. Until that day we are going to be stuck with this slow trickle of tiny improvements.
@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
Yes but the Starz window is quite short (2 months or so). Do we know for sure that the other content on watch now isn;t windowed as well? I'm not certain there aren;t longer windows on watch now (say 6 months or a year)
Windowing content means the geek dream of an ever present cloud of practically all media ever created will never happen. Instead we just get a bloated version of HBO where items constantly disappear from your queue.
I didn't know Robert Downey Jr. was in Man on Wire. I might have to check it out now. It looks like another Iron Man rip off though.
@nvoll84 I'd say it's a well balanced movie.
@nvoll84
Haha nice catch. I loled.
@nvoll84
It's a typo. It's supposed to say "Wire in Man".
SWEETNESS!
I love Netflix streaming. While my connection isn't fast enough for full on HD streaming, I'll still get 3 of the 4 bars, which is good enough to be watchable for streaming as far as I'm concerned.
I tend to stream more things from Netflix than I pull in via disc, so this will be awesome.
Coupled with getting my Hulu Plus invite a few weekends ago, my PS3 is working overtime.
hope this also means star trek series!
Awesome
What was so terribly wrong with the last Indiana Jones movie? It wasn't perfect, but I still liked a lot more than iron man or any other-man in funny costume for that matter.
@giedrys
It wasn't perfect, the story sucked, and the ending was stupid beyond words. George Lucas should be beaten for adding that to the script.
@admlshake Right... because it had aliens?
Because stories about the Ark, Grail, and dudes ripping beating hearts out of someone's chest are realistic and compelling? Only the people that close their eyes live when the Ark opens? Not a single Nazi closed his eyes? Brilliant ending! Never ending supply of bullets in the revolver? Awesome!
I LOVE the Indiana Jones movies, but they seem to suffer from the "Star Wars/Star Trek fan" syndrome. No movie/TV show could ever be as good as the one you saw as a child.
@davidbowser
It's not even that. While I do like the older ones, I'm not a rabid fan boy about them. In fact I don't really like the second one all that much. There was just so much wrong story wise with this movie. If they proceed with another I hope that Mr. Lucas keeps his hands off the script.
Have to agree, I don't think the last Indiana Jones flick was too bad. I'll offer up my list of favorite to least favorite:
1. The Last Crusade
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark
3. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
4. The Temple of Doom
No mention of 1080p or surround sound /facepalm
@LANjackal
Live in the moment, man.
@Luke ha ha, ya or what about no mention of 3D or Hologram or the actors and an orchestra coming strait to your house to reenact it... i mean c'mon Netflix.
Sounds awesome… I'm there!
Now launch in the UK puh-leeeeeaaaaase
We are dying here…
dying in the desert of digital streaming services :(
Netflix Watch Instantly keeps getting better and better, I am contemplating dropping down to a 1 DVD plan since I'm finding more and more to watch instantly.
@Dandmcd
I recommend dropping down. I have the 1 DVD thing and I don't even order DVD's. I just watch TV shows and movies.
Have they fixed the close-captioning problem yet?
@cray
There is closed captioning to fix? I kid, I know what you mean. If we could just get proper closed captioning, and alternative audio tracks (with selection of both) I would be completely happy.
@Dafrety I watched the girl with the Dragon Tatoo the other night and the captioning seemed fine. I could tell there were a spot here or there where they hadn't caught every single word but for the most part it was fine and did not keep me from understanding what was going on.
Great movie by the way.
Why doesn't it say Iron Man 2...... anyway still awesome.
Sounds good, maybe now that there is a decent selection of movies they'll beef up the feature set of clients now.
Awesome, now where's my iPhone Netflix app?
@Fishbulb2020 Where's the Android app? 2.2 has flash support and my Evo has a kickstand, it was made to watch Netflix!