In order to add "first-run" films to its streaming catalog, Netflix has signed a multi-year deal with new film distribution company FilmDistrict. Netflix just recently introduced a streaming-only
subscription plan in the U.S., and, according to
ReadWriteWeb, "This deal is one step in
battling a prime criticism of the plan -- that content does not reach Netflix's streaming-only subscribers quick enough."
Per the deal, Netflix will work with FilmDistrict to license
content for streaming in the "pay TV window," which occurs in the few months after a movie is released on DVD. "Under the deal," according to Netflix, "major motion pictures that traditionally would
have been licensed to premium cable channels will flow instead from FilmDistrict to Netflix for streaming to its members, beginning in 2011." According to ReadWriteWeb, the first two films to reach
Netflix subscribers are "Drive" and "Lockout".
Read the whole story at ReadWriteWeb »