After a five-year partnership, Netflix is ending its relationship with EPiX, a subscription video-on-demand service owned by Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM, reports Digital Trends. The partnership will end on September 30, meaning Netflix subscribers will lose access to some of their favorite movies including Hunger Games: Catching Fire, World War Z and Transformers: Age of Extinction.
Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos discusses the change in an August 30 blog post:”While many of these movies are popular, they are also widely available on cable and other subscription platforms at the same time as they are on Netflix and subject to the same drawn out licensing periods. Through our original films and some innovative licensing arrangements with the movie studios, we are aiming to build a better movie experience for you,” Sarandos said.Due to a new arrangement with The Walt Disney Company, starting next year, Netflix will be the exclusive U.S. pay TV home of Disney films, including movies from Pixar, Lucasfilm and Marvel. Those movies will be available faster than before. Netflix subscribers can also look forward to new releases, including Beasts of No Nation, Ridiculous Six, A Very Murray Christmas, Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, and more.”We know some of you will be disappointed by the expiration of the Epix movies. Our goal is to provide great movies and TV series for all tastes, that are only available on Netflix. We’re confident you’ll enjoy our ever-improving catalogue,” added Sarandos.Epix fans can still get their fix on Hulu. The two companies signed a non-exclusive deal that begins October 1, according to Variety.”This is a landmark deal for Hulu and it marks a huge expansion for our offering of premium programming,” said Craig Erwich, Hulu’s senior vice president and head of content, in the company’s announcement about the partnership.Insider Take:While subscribers may miss a few of their favorite films on Netflix, the partnership was not an exclusive one, so the films aren’t disappearing. They are available elsewhere.Meanwhile, Netflix can use the money it put into that partnership to focus on other acquisitions and the production of its own original series – House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Sense8, Crossing Lines and Narcos – which have done well on the streaming video site.Ultimately, subscribers win and so does Netflix. Subscribers get exclusive premium content, while Netflix gets the opportunity to differentiate itself from the other OTT services joining the video on-demand marketplace. By offering high quality content and securing licensing arrangements, Netflix can retain its customer base and continue to attract new subscribers.Another plus: Netflix made its announcement a month before the change, letting subscribers know what to expect. This is a great practice for subscription companies of all sizes to follow. Let your customers know what to expect and when. Be up front and honest, and take the opportunity to remind subscribers what else you offer.~ Dana Neuts, Subscription Insider
