Movie Studios to Release "Epix" Streaming Movie Service
Posted 06/08/09 at 05:30:10 PM by Andy Salisbury
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Lionsgate, Paramount and MGM have all come together to create a new TV network called Epix that will show their own recent films in HD before they’re released on DVD. They’re also bringing this channel online with an on-demand website that will offer HD streaming of the very same films. And, best of all, it won’t have any advertising and won’t show up on your cable bill.
Epix will be bundled directly into cable packages, and according to their current business model, won’t show up as a separate charge on your bill. If Epix can convince enough cable operators to sign on (they haven’t announced any partners yet), they will be able to gain a competitive edge over pay-TV channels that have a monthly fee.
The best part of it all is the site, epixhd.com. The films will stream in 720p, all for free. The video will be offered through Flash and is multi-bitrate enabled. The player will check your available bandwidth every ten seconds to see if a larger or smaller stream is required. Epix is currently working off of six different encodings for each film, ranging from cell phone quality (500Kbps) all the way to full HD.
But, there’s reportedly a catch (surprise, surprise). In order to use the website, you’ll need to be signed up with an ISP’s Internet and cable. This is primarily because Epix is looking to install caching servers directly in the data centers of ISPs that partner with them.
Image Credit: Epix
Grat preview of Iron man. I
Submitted by chrlesdikkenson on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 9:24am
Grat preview of Iron man. I simply love the movie. Cant wait for second edition.
Submitted by Shalbatana on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 6:02am
"We don't need another hero".
This ability to release films before the DVD release is simply a means to undercut Netflix and Hulu and similar services, who are already established and do a great job at streaming. I'm sure they'll have all these features by the time this thing is released anyway.
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"There's no time like the future."
Submitted by robwhitey on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 5:36pm
All the better to see what you are downloading and from what sites. (cough torrents, limewire, et al.)
Boxee
Submitted by Techrocket9 on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 4:46pm
Will it work with Boxee?
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An army of pacifists can be defeated by one man with the will to fight.
Submitted by hemingways on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 4:38pm
What is the benefit to the movie studios in this? They will help bury their own DVD releases. And they expect that cable companies will pay them to do this? How do the cable companies gain? The cable companies would be hurting their own PPV sales of new movies. I don't understand where the companies get anything of value out of this.
what a shame
Submitted by zeringue on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 3:11pm
It was all good until the last paragraph, must have isp and cable service to use. Whats the point of streaming movies and tv shows if i have to have the cable service too? I can just about get everything I want from the network/hulu streaming without having to pay netflix/tv service.
but then there are people like me...
Submitted by Devo85x on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 3:54pm
My parents use cable but I have a better computer monitor than TV, so while they get crappy cable service, I can stream hd movies and tv
But will you find full 720p
Submitted by nekollx on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 3:24pm
But will you find full 720p Star Trek online when it isnt even out of theretres yet? that's the big thing here.
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Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Submitted by nekollx on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 2:36pm
This is how you do streaming
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Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
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