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Epix to roll out 3,000 HD movies online: You'll probably never see them
The problem is that Epix Megaplex (the web component) won't be open to the general public. It'll only be available to payng subscribers of the TV channel. And in fact Verizon hasn't even committed to making Megaplex available to FiOS TV customers yet, which means that not a single TV distributor is currently promising to make use of the Epix web video offering.
There are two problems with Epix Megaplex as a I see it. First, the company is using old paradigm thinking and making the web component available as a value added feature for TV subscribers when Epix could probably convince a fair number of domestic and international users to sign up as web-only subscribers or pay-per-view users.
Second, as TechCrunch's MG Siegler points out, why is it that you can walk into a video store and grab virtually any new release the day it's available, but you might have to visit a dozen web sites to find the same content available for download or streaming online -- if it's available at all? Wouldn't it be nice if Viacom, Paramount, MGM, Lionsgate, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, and all the other companies offering online video would come to some sort of agreement that would let you find all of the videos you want in one place while making sure that the appropriate rights holders get paid?
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Subscribe to commentsCameron P CoxOct 25th 2009 11:28AM
"Wouldn't it be nice if Viacom, Paramount, MGM, Lionsgate, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, and all the other companies offering online video would come to some sort of agreement that would let you find all of the videos you want in one place while making sure that the appropriate rights holders get paid?"
This is why the Entertainment industry as a whole is failing, it is far more convenient(and in some cases faster.) just to pirate the item you want.
Scott RichardsonNov 6th 2009 9:47AM
Epix is a great concept, but ONLY if you allow everyone to sign up. I was very dissapointed to find out I had to be a Verizon customer to view the content. Verizon isn't even available here. Another stupid move by entertainment industry executives to half-a$$ content distribution over the Internet. I'm pretty sure my 14 month old could understand that content distribution over the Internet is cheaper, faster, and will result in more rentals and higher profit margins than a traditional brick and morter setup.
If you look at the track record for video distribution on the Internet, one thing is crystal clear - folks want the same movies that are available in the video store the same day it's available at the video store. I'm really not sure why the entertainment industry has such an incredibly difficult time understanding this VERY basic concept. This has been demonstrated time and time again in failed attempts to deliver movies and content over the Internet. Vongo is a perfect example. Netflix is another example. Sure, it's great to watch Groundhog Day online via my Netflix account, but wouldn't it be so much better to watch Transformers 2 or G.I. Joe the same day it was released at Blockbuster? The technology obviously has been proven, and I doubt seriously that content distribution licenses couldn't be figured out so that everyone leaves the transaction happy and profitable.
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