Epix, a joint venture movie channel owned by three Hollywood studios is reportedly talking with DISH Network about getting their fledgling channel into the sat caster’s programming line-up.
Currently, Epix, which was launched at the end of October, is being offered only on Verizon’s FiOS service, which means it’s potential audience is currently stalled at about 2 and a half million viewers.
Talks appear to be going well and may result in a deal that could close within weeks. When DISH subscribers could expect to see the channel is still not certain if a deal is reached.
Epix, which is a result of a partnership between Paramount Pictures, Lions Gate Entertainment Corp and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, is also working to interest other carriers in their new channel. Time-Warner Cable is rumored to be close to a deal with Epix, but cable giant Comcast has not expressed any interest. Perhaps they have bigger fish to fry with their plans to grab a big piece of NBC.
The creation of Epix seems to have been prompted by Showtime’s saber-rattling last year when it said it would like to cut back on the fees they are paying to movie studios to show their films. Apparently, the three big studios figure they can go it on their own and let Showtime find out how things go if a good portion of their library of content goes under lock and key.
DISH Network Montgomery, Alabama
Tags: Epix, Lions Gate Entertainment, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, New Channel, Paramount Pictures