Movie streaming site launches in beta
DIGITAL: EpixHD a joint venture of Paramount, Lionsgate, MGM
By Jennifer Netherby -- Video Business, 6/8/2009
JUNE 8 | DIGITAL: Epix, the joint venture cable channel being launched by Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate and MGM, unveiled a beta version of its streaming movie site today, dubbed by tech blogs as “Hulu for movies.”
The beta site, EpixHD, streams a selection of 100-plus movies without advertisements to an invited group of users. A spokesman for Studio 3 Networks, the name of the joint venture company behind the service, confirmed the launch, but didn’t provide other details on the service.
Engadget HD, which apparently got an invite, reports that initial films available for streaming in 720p HD include Paramount’s Iron Man and Lionsgate’s Cloverfield.
Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate and MGM joined a year ago to launch Epix, envisioned as a premium cable movie channel and subscription online movie service competing against HBO, Showtime and Starz. Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman said at a conference in March that the channel would be available on TV in October, despite reports that backers have had trouble getting cable and satellite companies to distribute it. Once the TV channel launches, users would have to subscribe to watch programs online.
Epix president Mark Greenberg told USA Today in March that the site would include movies from its studio partners nine months after they debut in theaters. That would put them online and on cable TV months after their debut on DVD and VOD but before their traditional release on premium cable channels.
