• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, February 4, 2010

Skeptics who wondered how Epix would find distribution in a crowded landscape of pay cable channels may be losing some ammunition. Its owners say it will be in almost 16 million homes by May, while announcing a carriage deal with Charter on Thursday.

Charter will launch the service in May, joining Verizon FiOS, which debuted Epix last October. In addition, Cox and Mediacom will begin carrying Epix on multiple platforms in April. Terms of the Charter deal were not disclosed.

Epix -- co-owned by Viacom, Lionsgate and MGM -- offers a traditional channel, a VOD feed and online option.

Content includes newer releases from the studios, as well as 15,000 films from the partners' libraries. Films include "Star Trek," "Paranormal Activity" and "Precious." It is also developing some original TV series.

Rich DiGeronimo, Charter's vice president of product management, stated the company believes the network "offers new content with convenience and control for our customers."

Charter ended the third quarter of 2009 with 4.9 million basic cable subscribers.