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
@KAL326
Netflix in browsers is based off of Microsoft Silverlight. I agree though, I can't wait until Netflix is on my Nexus One.
@KAL326
Hey, I think we all deserve it, iOS and Android alike. I'm just saying that they mentioned it at the same time they announced the iPhone 4 and we still don't have it.
@Fishbulb2020 I just asked myself the same question yesterday, and found an answer! If you're jailbroken, you can get the iPad app to work on your iPhone (do some Googling)... I now have the ability to stream Watch Instantly on my 3Gs!
@JordTheJedi
I know what you're talking about and I tried it, but I can't manage to get it working. I SSHed in there and followed the instructions to the letter but for some reason it still knows I'm on an iPhone. I don't mind waiting as long as it doesn't take forever I suppose.
Photoshop fail? It says "Man on Wire" under the poster.
Add 5.1 Surround sound and more HD content and I might actually care.
I thought about watching a fairly recent movie like 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' but it was SD, and since it's streaming...still no 5.1
no thanks, I'll wait for it on Bluray
Hey, I happen to like Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
@dcornibe
You were too young to watch the original trilogy in theaters when they were first released, I'm guessing.
@Meekermoloko No, I saw them alright, I'm 40 years old. For whatever reason, though, I didn't see the first two in the theater (what a shame), but I did see "Last Crusade" in the theater.
@Meekermoloko I guess you assumed I must be part of the younger generation whose first exposure to Indy was "Skull". I do agree, "Skull" had kind of a cheesy plot with the aliens and all, but I'm glad they brought back Karen Allen and her character. She was the best female lead ever in those movies.
@dcornibe
Well, it's fine that you liked it. I really wanted to like it, but I just think that Lucas and Spielberg lost a bit of magic on the last one.
Harrison Ford also didn't even do that great of a job, acting wise ... it was as if they were just having too much fun on set that Spielberg didn't want to direct Ford because they knew each other for so long.
They had too many computer effects, the script sounded like someone took the previous scripts and tried to copy/paste the best stuff into them (a kind of paint by numbers story), and Cate Blanchett's character was too cartoonish. Vine swinging with monkeys? The main thing it lost was the heart.
It's not the worst film ever by any means and I'll probably watch it again, but I felt more disappointed with this than I did "The Phantom Menace." Hopefully, they'll get back on track with the next film.
Anyone know in what countries Netflix movie downloads/streaming/rentals can be done? Only in America?
I would be willing to pay $20/month if Netflix got all the movie studios to agree to this, so I could watch *any* movie coming out, 90 days after ppv/disc rental starts. However, the other requirement for me signing up is a decent bitrate 1080p option, with 5.1 surround sound (I won't ask for Lossless this time around :)
@tosvus I agree, absolutely.
This is a good move by Netflix especially since Blockbuster and Comcast are trying to keep physical media alive...My only question for Netflix is can we decrease the wait time?? Some movies will be completely forgotten about the time that they would become available on the queue.
Movies are filmed in widescreen (16:9, or similar, there are a few widescreen formats) already so why would they crop or zoom anything. Pan-&-Scan, (zooming and cropping) is usually used when adapting a film to 4:3 for viewing on an SD tv.
@Ice Cream Man
Yeah really, is 16x9 no good now??? According to the following wikipedia link, US cinema standards these days is 1.85:1 (16x9 = 1.78:1) and it shows you exactly how much you'd missed out if you cropped/zoomed that.
NOT MUCH.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect_ratio_%28image%29#Cinema_terminology
If the movies aren't in HD, they aren't even worth watching....movies on Netflix that aren't in HD are like watching a VHS movie (on an HDTV that is)
@chramo
Depends on the movie. Some MGM and Paramount movies from the early days would be fine in SD. I'd much prefer them in HD, but it's better than nothing. Hopefully, they'll at least have the newer releases in HD.
My understanding is that NF gets access 90-days after the title appears on Epix. Titles appear on Epix 90 days after the release on DVD. So we are looking at a total of 180 (6 months) days after DVD release date to show up on NF.
I want to know who is responsible for the encoding and will NF have access to the HD version or just the SD version..
So we can get "A Dog's Breakfast" and "Repo! the Genetic Opera" on Netflix Instant view soon? Sweet!
Some people are complaining about waiting 90 days which I guess is fine but what about paramounts MGM and liknsgate older movies? Movies released last year or longer than that? Will those be available right away? If new movies will be delayed but their older ones right away I'm fine with it.
This is why I subscribe to netflix!
Hurray!