Epix Coverage

EPIX teams up with Adobe to bring its service to mobile users

IntoMobile
Dusan Belic
February 17, 2010

EPIX — the service formed by such giants as Viacom’s Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Lionsgate — announced that it has added mobile capabilities to its multiplatform offer, “expanding the viewing experience across the third screen.” As a result, all interested parties (including cable, telco and satellite distributors) will be able to expand the EPIX experience to mobile phone users.

For this endeavor, EPIX has joined the Open Screen Project and teamed up with Adobe to demonstrate a mobile version of the channel. Unsurprisingly, the service runs on Flash Player 10.1, providing users with access to the entire EPIX lineup, including feature-title playback and programming extras. Moreover, standard EPIX’ features like “bookmark” also work on a mobile version.

Personally, I haven’t seen “EPIX in action,” but it sounds like a promising service. After all if HULU can do it, so can other folks. And EPIX certainly has some powerful partners to talk to…

Epix Shows Mobile Hand

Multichannel News
Todd Spangler
February 15, 2010

Epix provided a look at the mobile version of the premium-movie service that would let cable, telco and satellite distributors deliver hundreds of movies on-demand to subscribers’ mobile devices.
Epix, a joint venture of Viacom, MGM and Lionsgate formed in 2008, has distribution deals with Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Verizon’s FiOS TV, Mediacom Communications and the National Cable and Telecommunications Cooperative. The programming venture’s multiscreen delivery play was conceived as one of its key differentiators
Epix made the announcement at the 2010 Mobile World Congress, which is being held from Feb. 15-18 in Barcelona, Spain. The new mobile service will be available as an additional option to distributors, according to Epix. The premium channel currently provides about 300 movies on-demand on VOD and online and Epix anticipates the library to expand to 3,000 titles in the next year.
Epix’s mobile player is expected to provide authenticated subscribers access to full-length movies, available at the highest quality available to a given device, as well as programming extras. The venture also is developing a “bookmark” feature to let users pause a movie they’re watching on TV or online and resuming watching it on a mobile device.
“We are committed to providing viewers with the best entertainment experience anytime, anywhere — and what better place to deliver on that commitment than mobile?” Epix vice president of operations Thomas Carpenter said.
Epix’s mobile version of the channel runs on Adobe Systems’ Flash Player 10.1. The programmer also has joined the Adobe-led Open Screen Project, an initiative with nearly 70 participating companies, which aims to provide a standard user experience across mobile phones, desktops and other consumer-electronics devices.

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Vid-Biz: NBC Olympics, 3-D Movies, Livestation

NewTeeVee
Ryan Lawler
February 15, 2010

The joint venture of Viacom, MGM and Lionsgate has provided a look at the mobile version of its premium, on-demand movie service that will deliver hundreds of movies to subscribers’ mobile devices.

EPIX brings movie streaming to mobiles courtesy of Adobe's Open Screen Project

Engadget
Richard Lawler
February 15, 2010

Already offering video to your TV and computer, EPIX is ready to unveil the third part of its “Big On Any Screen” service when it demonstrates a mobile version of the channel today at MWC 2010. It’s teamed up with Adobe and the Open Screen Project for a Flash Player 10.1 implementation that it claims offers “highest mobile viewing quality available on mobile devices today,” if it can match up with the Flash player available on PCs then it has a chance. The ability to pause a movie on the TV or PC and pick up later on your handheld is in the works as well. No word on where we’ll see this launch or if your cell carrier will need to be tied to your TV service for access, but we’d figure Verizon’s VCast will be near the top of the list.

Viacom’s EPIX Lands Cable Deal With Charter Communications

TechCrunch
By Leena Rao 
February 4, 2010

Epix, the movie and entertainment streaming network that works across your TV, computer, and mobile phone, has landed its fourth cable deal: Charter Communications. In the past few weeks, the network also landed a deal with Cox Communications and Mediacom Communications. We wrote about the service here and here. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Jointly backed by Viacom, Lionsgate, Paramount, and MGM, EPIX provides access to over 15,000 movie titles. The company originally signed a deal with Verizon FIOS,  which was somewhat limiting considering only some 2 million people use Verizon’s cable service. Cox brings more clients to EPIX with its base of 6.2 million customers, which including 2.7 million digital cable subscribers. Mediacom, the 7th largest cable provider in the U.S., will bring with it a base of 1.3 million subscribers in 22 states. And Carter, which is the fourth largest cable provider in the U.S. will bring EPIX to 5.7 million homes by May 2010.

One of our main issues with EPIX was that it was tied to Verizon FIOS but it appears that the company is steadily adding more cable providers to distribute its service. Epix was also said to be close to an agreement with the Dish Network, which would bring a large list of 14 million subscribers. Unfortunately, the platform offers a sliver of available movies out there, since it only includes the movies available through the studios that are backing the company. But EPIX is useful because it transcends the TV and your computer and it’s fairly easy to use. Now that EPIX has scored deals with Cox and Charter, I’m sure the company is looking to cross Time Warner and Comcast off the list.

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Viacom’s EPIX Finds Second Cable Distributor In Cox Communications

TechCrunch
By Leena Rao 
January 11, 2010

Epix, the movie and entertainment streaming network that works across your TV, computer, and mobile phone, has officially landed a second cable provider for its service: Cox Communications. We wrote about the service here and here. Cox was rumored to be in negotiations with EPIX in December. SAI was tipped on the deal over the weekend but the official announcement of the partnership was made today by the two companies.

Jointly backed by Viacom, Lionsgate, and MGM, EPIX provides access to over 15,000 movie titles. The company originally signed a deal with Verizon FIOS,  which was somewhat limiting considering only some 2 million people use Verizon’s cable service. Cox brings more clients to EPIX with its base of 6.2 million customers, which including 2.7 million digital cable subscribers. EPIX will brings its programming to Cox customers starting in April 2010. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

One of our main issues with EPIX was that it was tied to Verizon FIOS but it appears that the company is steadily adding more cable providers to distribute its service. Epix was also said to be close to an agreement with the Dish Network, which would bring a large list of 14 million subscribers. Unfortunately, the platform offers a sliver of available movies out there, since it only includes only the movies available through the studios that are backing the company. But EPIX is useful because it transcends over the TV and your computer and its fairly easy to use.

Where there's smoke there's EPIX, cable/online hybrid channel to arrive on Cox in April

Engadget HD
By Richard Lawler 
January 11, 2010

Just as rumors indicated, the second provider to pick up EPIX will be Cox Communications, with the channel scheduled to arrive in April. Cox VP Bob Wilson acknowledged helping customers increase their anytime/anyplace access was key to increasing satisfaction, we’ll see if the pace of additions is similar to that of FiOS. The service worked great in beta over our cable connection, we’ll see if Cox can keep things moving smoothly everywhere. Check out the full press release after the break.

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Epix Adds Another Distribution Partner: Cox Communications

paidContent.org
By Tameka Kee 
January 11, 2010

Epix, the premium entertainment JV between Viacom (NYSE: VIA), Paramount, MGM and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), has finally added another distribution partner: Cox Communications. Cox has more than 5 million subscribers.

The partnership goes live in April, with VOD, online and subscription-based access for Cox’s “movie tier customers” nationwide. The companies didn’t disclose financials, and details on how Cox will roll out the offering to its customers haven’t been disclosed. A source tipped SAI about the deal this weekend; the companies confirmed via press release today.

Epix launched last October amid tons of hype. But with just one distribution partner at the time—Verizon FiOS—the potential viewer base for its content library was limited.

Epix offers access to more than 15,000 films, at least 3,000 of which are slated for on-demand online streaming access later this year.

Epix Going to Cox

Home Media Magazine
By Erik Gruenwedel
January 11, 2010 

Epix, the high-definition pay-TV and online streaming channel co-owned by Lionsgate, MGM and Paramount Studios, Jan. 11 said it would be distributed by Cox Communications, the nation’s No. 3 cable operator, beginning in April.

The deal gives Cox access to box office hits Star Trek, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Paranormal Activity, Tyler Perry’s film franchise — Madea Goes to Jail and I Can Do Bad All by Myself — and critically acclaimed Precious, in addition to Epix’s catalog of 15,000 titles.

“The video business is evolving, especially the way in which customers consume movies, and the movie products they value,” said Bob Wilson, SVP of programming for Cox. “Our cross-platform distribution of Epix will increase our customers’ anytime/anyplace access to content and increase their convenience and satisfaction.”

Epix, which recently began production of original series “Tough Trade,” starring Sam Shepard, Lucas Black and Cary Elwes, is currently carried by Verizon’s nascent FiOS TV network.

It is reportedly also in talks with satellite operator Dish Network.

Viacom's Premium Movie Channel Epix Coming To Cox

Silicon Alley Insider
By Jay Yarow
January 9, 2010

Cox Communications has reached a deal to carry Epix, the premium movie channel started by Viacom last year, according to a source familiar with the matter.

David Grabert, a spokesman for Cox, confirms this, but says Cox is “giving no further details at this time.”

This is a much needed deal for Viacom’s fledgling movie channel. Epix is only available to Verizon FiOs’s 2.7 million subscribers now. Cox is the nation’s third largest cable provider with 6 million subscribers.

Epix is a joint venture between Viacom, Paramount, Lions Gate and MGM. It also allows subscribers to stream thousands of movies from its site.

Epix is a money losing venture. In a November note, Pali analyst Rich Greenfield wrote “we believe EPIX is well below the revenue goal it needs to pay for the cost of the movies it is buying from its three studio partners.”

Epix chief Mark Greenberg told the Wall Street Journal he expects the company to break even by 2011.

Our source didn’t know the terms of the Cox deal.

News of a potential deal between the two companies was first reported by Bloomberg
in December.

Bloomberg’s report quotes Piper analyst, James Marsh who said more than 1,000 FiOs subscribers per day signed up for Epix in its first month. The channel costs $9.99 per month on FiOs.