ie8 fix

Between the Lines

Larry Dignan, Andrew Nusca and Rachel King
Home / News & Blogs / Between the Lines

Netflix strikes deal to stream first-run movies, elbows in on the pay TV release window

By | December 1, 2010, 5:47am PST

Summary: Netflix has inked a deal with FilmDistrict, a production, distribution and financing company, to stream first-run movies as pay TV gets them, typically a few months after a DVD release.

Netflix said Wednesday that it has inked a deal with FilmDistrict, a production, distribution and financing company, to stream first-run movies as pay TV gets them, typically a few months after a DVD release.

With the move, Netflix is working to bring streaming more into the traditional release window set-up. Movies typically go to theaters, then DVD, then pay TV and often streaming last. Netflix has been creative about cutting deals to bring more new releases to streaming.

Under the deal, movies that would have been licensed to pay cable channels will now go to Netflix for streaming. Movies to be included are “Drive” and “Lockout.”

The move is notable because now it’s readily apparent that Netflix is competing with premium cable channels.

In addition, the FilmDistrict deal works to eliminate the one knock on Netflix’s streaming service—the lack of new titles.

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily e-mail newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

More from “Between the Lines”

Topics

NetFlix Inc., Window, Cable, Network Technology, Telecommunications, Personal Technology, Networking, Larry Dignan

Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet as well as Editorial Director of ZDNet's sister site TechRepublic.

Disclosure

Larry Dignan

Larry Dignan has nothing to disclose. He doesn’t hold investments in the technology companies he covers.

Biography

Larry Dignan

Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet as well as Editorial Director of ZDNet's sister site TechRepublic. He was most recently Executive Editor of News and Blogs at ZDNet. Prior to that he was executive news editor at eWeek and news editor at Baseline. He also served as the East Coast news editor and finance editor at CNET News.com. Larry has covered the technology and financial services industry since 1995, publishing articles in WallStreetWeek.com, Inter@ctive Week, The New York Times, and Financial Planning magazine. He's a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism and the University of Delaware.

For daily updates, follow Larry on Twitter.

Related Discussions on TechRepublic

Did you know you can take part in these discussions with your ZDNet membership?
Ask a Question Start a Discussion
12
Comments
Add Your Opinion

Join the conversation!

Just In

RE: Netflix strikes deal to stream first-run movies, elbows in on the pay TV release window
birumut Updated - 19th Jun
Well done! Thank you very much for professional templates and community edition
sesli sohbet sesli chat
View in thread
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Netflix strikes deal to stream first-run movies, elbows in on the pay TV release window
Anti Fanboy 1st Dec 2010
Anything that gives Comcast more competition is good.
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Netflix strikes deal to stream first-run movies, elbows in on the pay TV release window
geoff@... 1st Dec 2010
Ah, it's nice to see cable companies getting some competition. Perhaps the pricing will get competitive...doubtful.
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Ah, it's nice to see cable companies getting some competition
fatman65535 1st Dec 2010
@geoff@...

NOT if Comcrap gets its way.

You HAVE heard about the tiff Comcrap is having with Level 3?

Comcrap does not want you (the customer) to have choices that deprive it of your entertainment dollar.
0 Votes
+ -
What competition?
ahh so 5th Dec 2010
I'm waiting for @adone.. the teabagger to come on here and bloviate his defense of this.
0 Votes
+ -
Good News
ParrotHead_FL 1st Dec 2010
Netflix has a decent streaming library, but it has LOTS of room for improvement. Hopefully this is just one of a number of steps they'll take in that direction.
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Netflix strikes deal to stream first-run movies, elbows in on the pay TV release window
VRSpock 1st Dec 2010
Thank you Netflix! Hopefully that will end my dilemma of seeking a supplement to my Netflix viewing like Amazon video on demand or Redbox Streaming (assuming either one ever becomes available on my device). I'd rather have one service to send my money to instead of two for my internet tv viewing time.
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Netflix strikes deal to stream first-run movies, elbows in on the pay TV release window
SmokinBiz 1st Dec 2010
This makes sense, this explains Comcast trying to get the money on the last leg of the pipe. They see the competition and instead of competing, they are trying to find other ways to generate a revenue, even if it means screwing the customer even more than they already do. Comcast is essentially trying to keep their monopoly (in some areas) as long as they can.
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Netflix strikes deal to stream first-run movies, elbows in on the pay TV release window
stevejg61 1st Dec 2010
by Dec. 21 the cable companies that are ISPs will start to throttle down Netfix bandwidth - that's the date for the Net Neutrality vote - will probbaly want and get a grandfather clause. they will need to muscle them out as they compete with pay per view
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Netflix strikes deal to stream first-run movies, elbows in on the pay TV release window
mswift@... 1st Dec 2010
Netflix gets so slow here in the evening that you can't watch it anyway. It is good up until about 7:30 and then useless until at least 11, the latest I'm likely to be interested. They need to institute a bigger download window. Last night we turned it off after it gave the message about slowing down and then took 15 minutes to fill a tiny buffer that then ran out in a couple of minutes.
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Netflix strikes deal to stream first-run movies, elbows in on the pay TV release window
Elliottm 1st Dec 2010
"In addition, the FilmDistrict deal works to eliminate the one knock on Netflix?s streaming service?the lack of new titles."

Another major knock against the streaming service is the lack of caption support. First-run movie support is great, but caption support is still needed.
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Netflix strikes deal to stream first-run movies, elbows in on the pay TV release window
jwlehman Updated - 2nd Dec 2010
From FreePress.Net sent on Tues 11/30...

In the past 24 hours, Comcast has been caught abusing its massive media power, stomping on competitors and violating Net Neutrality.

The New York Times reported last night that Comcast threatened to cut off Netflix streaming video unless the company that carries the traffic paid huge tolls.1

Earlier in the day, Comcast was exposed for trying to bar cheaper cable modems from its network a clear violation of Net Neutrality.2

This is what a media monopoly looks like in the Internet age one company, consolidating its media power to squash competitors, stifle innovation and price-gouge consumers.

Sign our message to the FCC: "Don't Let Comcast Kill the Internet."

Such outrageous abuse comes just days before FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is expected to finally propose new Net Neutrality rules to come up for a vote in December. It's never been more crucial that he hear from you.

If the FCC stays on the sidelines, Comcast will turn the Internet into cable TV, where it gets to pick the channels, overcharge you for them, and decide what downloads quickly and whose voices are heard.

Comcast is the same company that wants to take over NBC Universal in one of the biggest media mergers in a generation. It's not just the Internet at stake here. It's the future of all media: television, radio, social networks... and our democracy itself.


Tell the FCC Chairman: "Stop the Comcast Monopoly. Protect the Open Internet."

We will deliver your letter to the FCC before its anticipated December vote on Net Neutrality. Sign our letter to the chairman and then tell all of your friends we need their help, too.

Onward,

Timothy Karr
Campaign Director
Free Press
www.freepress.net
www.SavetheInternet.com

1. New York Times, "Netflix Partner Says Comcast 'Toll' Threatens Online Video Delivery." http://act2.freepress.net/go/1081?akid=2069.9559954.MjEah7&t=8

2. Free Press, "Zoom Complaint Against Comcast a Reason for FCC to Act." http://act2.freepress.net/go/1082?akid=2069.9559954.MjEah7&t=10

3. For more, read my article in the Huffington Post: http://act2.freepress.net/go/1086?akid=2069.9559954.MjEah7&t=12

http://act2.freepress.net/go/1084?akid=2069.9559954.MjEah7&t=4
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Netflix strikes deal to stream first-run movies, elbows in on the pay TV release window
birumut Updated - 19th Jun
Well done! Thank you very much for professional templates and community edition
sesli sohbet sesli chat

Join the conversation!

Formatting +
BB Codes - Note: HTML is not supported in forums
  • [b] Bold [/b]
  • [i] Italic [/i]
  • [u] Underline [/u]
  • [s] Strikethrough [/s]
  • [q] "Quote" [/q]
  • [ol][*] 1. Ordered List [/ol]
  • [ul][*] · Unordered List [/ul]
  • [pre] Preformat [/pre]
  • [quote] "Blockquote" [/quote]
ie8 fix

The best of ZDNet, delivered

ZDNet Newsletters

Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox

Facebook Activity

Blog Roll

Blog Archive

White Papers, Webcasts, & Resources
ie8 fix