To this point Canadian Netflix users have needed to handle a much more limited streaming library than their US cousins, exacerbated by the shortcoming of a DVD / Blu-ray library to fall back on, but that’s about to modify. Netflix has struck a deal in Canada with Paramount for premium pay TV window access covering “exclusive subscription television rights to all first-run films.” Currently inside the US Netflix’s cope with Epix gives it access to the various same movies (Iron Man 2 — already available for the reason that 25th in Canada, while not currently ready for streaming inside the US — Titanic, Zoolander, The Last Airbender) eventually, but that’s clearly not exclusive. While it’s previously cut deals with smaller distributors like Relativity Media and Nu Image/Millennium Films for pay TV window access, the combination of exclusive and a significant studio like Paramount makes Netflix a pay TV channel competitor in an entire new way. This backs up its earlier move in that direction by signing up for a brand new original show to debut at the service in 2012 and potentially adds a brand new edge to rumored negotiations for the Miramax back catalog , press release follows after the break.
The Last Airbender, Marvel’s Iron Man 2 and Hundreds More Great Paramount Movies to be Offered Exclusively to Canadian Netflix Members to look at Instantly
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., March 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) today announced a brand new multi-year licensing agreement with Paramount Pictures, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), adding hundreds of recent movie titles, including the exclusive subscription television rights to all first-run films, for Canadian Netflix members to monitor instantly on their computers and TVs.
Netflix members in Canada can enjoy theatrical hits from Paramount within the coming months starting with “The Last Airbender” and Marvel’s “Iron Man 2.” The five year agreement will add over 350 new movies available to look at instantly from Netflix in Canada, including epics like “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Titanic,” and “Defiance,” great comedies like “Zoolander” and “Wayne’s World,” and beloved classics like “The African Queen,” “Sabrina” (1954) and “Terms of Endearment.”
“We’re committed to constantly expanding our number of top new movies and television shows for our Canadian members,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix chief content officer. “This agreement will let them watch many of the latest hit Paramount films in addition to an excellent range of the studio’s recent and classic favorites anytime they wish. Netflix and Paramount enjoy a good relationship and are proud to bring this kind of terrific array of flicks to Netflix members in Canada.”
Speaking on behalf of Paramount Pictures, Hal Richardson, President of Paramount Television & Digital Distribution, stated “We’re extremely pleased to have concluded this tackle Netflix for the premium pay television window in Canada; offering a number of Paramount’s best films to their rapidly growing Canadian subscriber base, beginning with Iron Man 2 on March 25. We’re especially delighted that this arrangement serves to broaden the growing relationship with our friends at Netflix.”
About Netflix:
With greater than 20 million members within the Usa and Canada, Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] is the realm’s leading Internet subscription service for playing movies and television shows. For $7.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited movies and television episodes streamed over the web to PCs, Macs and TVs. One of several large and expanding base of devices streaming from Netflix are Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Nintendo’s Wii and Sony’s PS3 consoles; an array of Blu-ray disc players, Internet-connected TVs, home theater systems, digital video recorders and Internet video players; Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, in addition to Apple TV and Google TV. In all, greater than 200 devices that stream from Netflix come in the U.S. and a growing number come in Canada.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation:
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a worldwide producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a number one content company with prominent and revered film, television and digital entertainment brands. The corporate’s labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group and Paramount Television & Digital Distribution.
CONTACT: Steve Swasey of Netflix, Inc., +1-408-540-3947, sswasey@netflix.com; or Dade Hayes of Rubenstein Communications, Inc., +1-212-843-8022, dhayes@rubenstein.com, for Netflix, Inc.
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