Netflix, Viacom in Streaming Movies Deal

Arthi Gupta
11 Aug, 2010
New York City

EPIX and Netflix, Inc. 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.

[R]9:35 AM New York – EPIX and Netflix, Inc. 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.[/R]

Netflix, Inc., a subscription service of streaming movies and TV episodes, and EPIX, an entertainment channel and a joint venture of Viacom Inc. announced a multi-year deal by which Netflix members will get an array of new movie releases and library titles from EPIX streamed over the Internet. 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.

The deal is a significant step for Netflix, as it could add many popular movie titles from the world''s leading studios. These movies and TV shows can be watched instantly on TVs through consumer electronic devices capable of streaming from Netflix and on computers.

""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 agreement with Netflix allows EPIX to continue the distribution of popular content on a variety of platforms while preserving premium television, subscription on demand and online window reserved for cable, satellite and telco television partners.

Netflix ended the second quarter with approximately 15 million total subscribers, representing 42% year-over-year growth from 10.6 million subscribers at the end of the year-ago quarter.