Epix Extends Amazon Deal

Epix said Monday it has extended its distribution agreement with Amazon, giving Amazon Prime Instant Video customers access to such movies as Selma and Transformers: Age of Extinction.

While terms of the deal were not disclosed, Epix will license thousands of new releases for Amazon to stream including movies from Epix studio partners Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Interstellar and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.  The deal also includes films from the classic James Bond, Star Trek, and Rocky film franchises.

“Programming from EPIX and its three studio partners has been exceptionally popular among Prime members and by extending this agreement we continue to deliver on our promise to provide great titles for Prime Instant Video,” said Brad Beale, Vice President of Digital Video Content Acquisition at Amazon in a statement. “Our goal is to offer the best entertainment selection to Prime members and we are excited to continue to add even more hits from EPIX including blockbuster movies such as Transformers: Age of Extinction, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.”

Mark Greenberg, President and CEO of EPIX added: “We are excited to continue our relationship with Amazon and to share our movies, concerts, comedy specials and original documentaries with Amazon Prime members. This partnership highlights the incredible value of the EPIX content offering and provides yet another example of our ability to find creative ways to deliver that content to consumers across multiple platforms.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.