Not So Fast YouTube, Here Comes Epix
By Anna Johnson on February 3rd, 2009YouTube seems to be intent on becoming THE online video entertainment hub. And recent deals with U.S. television networks indicates a push towards showing more ‘professional’ video content.
But, in a shot across the bow, Hollywood’s Studio 3 Networks has announced a new service called epix that may one-up YouTube. Launching online in May, epix will offer more than 15,000 films and television shows across multiple platforms.
According to ReadWriteWeb, epix – which is a joint venture between Viacom’s Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Lionsgate – will launch in two stages. Firstly as an online service to be launched in May and later as a premium movie channel to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Along with new releases such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and popular movies series such as the James Bond movies, epix subscribers will also get access to directors’ script notes, outtakes, auditions and other extras.
Of course, YouTube may not need to be worried. epix hasn’t launched yet and no-one knows how good it will really be. Plus, users will presumably have to pay to watch content on epix.
Studio 3 Networks has not yet revealed the subscription cost…
Source: Lidija Davis, “Hollywood Studios Taking on Online Video,” ReadWriteWeb, January 31, 2009
