With many of today’s Golden Globe winners not being part of most viewers basic cable packages Viacom announced that it will join up with Lionsgate, MGM and Paramount Pictures on a super Premium channel to win them all.
“As for the new joint venture, it pools classic library titles with new series and movies. It will draw from Par and Par Vantage theatricals released on or after Jan. 1 of this year and MGM, United Artists and Lionsgate titles released on or after Jan. 1, 2009. That means titles such as “Iron Man,” “Star Trek,” “Shutter Island” and “Valkyrie.”
The libraries of the companies involved also bring in the James Bond, Indiana Jones and “Saw” franchises, “Dirty Dancing” and Oscar-winning classics such as “Titanic,” “Sunset Boulevard” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” The channel will also be a venue for new series created by the five studios involved.”
It sounds like someone really wants to be like Showtime or HBO to me. Unless these people offer this new Package at dirt cheap prices or have excellent new original series….no one is going to want to buy in. I think the deal that they are striking though, is going to MAKE viewers of the other networks buy in. That disgusts me. I think all movies should be played more than just on one station. Further proving why Netflix is so popular: It’s cheaper and they don’t tell you what you can or can’t watch.
The channel is currently nameless, but plans for it to over take the air waves begin as early as late fall 2009.
