US-based movie rental service Netflix has forged a deal with pay-TV service Epix to digitally stream films just three months after their TV premiere.
The move is being seen as a sign that streaming is becoming a more profitable outlet for the Hollywood studios.
The relatively new Epix service is owned by three studios: Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Lions Gate Entertainment, all of which will now make their films available through Netflix. The company has already established a healthy 15 million users in the US, with an operation that works in a similar way to the UK’s LoveFilm rental service, sending DVDs by post and streaming selected films from its website.
Both companies are also beginning to offer films streamed directly to internet-enabled TVs and Blu-ray players.
Netflix says it plans to launch its streaming service in the UK later this year.