Having recently crossed the Atlantic to come to the UK and Ireland as well, things are looking better than ever for Netflix, the online streaming service. To add further to their successes, Netflix and The Weinstein Company have just announced a multi-year licensing agreement that will see foreign-language, documentary, and certain other films available exclusively through Netflix subscribers.
THR’s report notes that these movies will make their pay TV debut exclusively through Netflix, rather than the traditional premium cable route. And though the report only mentions US subscribers getting them within a year of their release, here’s to hoping that the UK service will benefit from the same exclusivity too.
So far, the films announced to be part of the agreement include The Artist and documentary feature Undefeated (for which we saw a new clip yesterday), both of which are nominated at this year’s Academy Awards. Along with them will be Ralph Fiennes’ critically acclaimed directorial debut, Coriolanus; the French-language WWII drama Sarah’s Key, starring Kristin Scott Thomas; the recent popular French-language film, Intouchables; and Madonna’s W.E.
“We couldn’t be happier to be working again with Harvey and Bob, who have an unmatched track record of creating critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.
“It is a fantastic coup for Netflix to acquire The Artist and the package of additional titles,” said TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein, “With this deal, a company that loves movies, Netflix, joins forces with a company that is built on that same love. It’s exciting that we can offer consumers a supremely convenient way to see the kinds of movies that made us want to be in this business in the first place.”
If you’re interested in trying out Netflix’s services here in the UK, they’ve currently got a free 30-day trial for you to dip your toe in the online waters of streaming. If you’re on Facebook, you’ll quite possibly have seen some of your friends trying it already; everyone I know who has speaks highly of the company and its range of TV shows and films.
Their ever-increasing range currently includes TV’s Heroes, 24, Firefly, Spooks, Breaking Bad, Scrubs, Arrested Development, South Park, and The Office; and feature films like Reservoir Dogs, Lost in Translation, Blitz, The Men who Stare at Goats, Green Street, Con Air, Kill Bill Vols. I and II, There Will Be Blood, and many, many more.
Clearly, the new deal with The Weinstein Co. cements their ever-increasing range even further, and shows that they’re committed to exclusively bringing their customers the best films and TV shows on offer for years to come.
