Chinese online video platform iQiyi is launching a film company, iQiyi Films, which it claims will develop a new internet-oriented business model for film production. The new outfit, unveiled at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday, will produce eight films a year, including seven domestic films and one Hollywood movie.
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Netflix and Walt Disney Studios have signed a multi-year deal that gives Netflix exclusive Canandian subscription TV rights to Disney’s first-run live action and animated features. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Beginning in 2015, Netflix Canada subscribers will be offered theatrically released films from Disney Live Action, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm,
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Microsoft has confirmed it’s shutting down Xbox’s original programming arm, Xbox Entertainment Studios, as the division refocuses on its core video gaming business. Phil Spencer, head of Xbox and Microsoft Studios, confirmed the move today, although he added that the company would continue with projects already in production. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who took over from Steve Ballmer in February,
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US mini-studio Lionsgate and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba have joined forces to launch Lionsgate Entertainment World (LGEW), a subscription streaming service for mainland China.
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Hulu has signed a three-year deal with the creators of South Park which makes Hulu Plus the exclusive streaming home of the animated series.
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Netflix faces heavy competition as it prepares to roll out across Europe as the number of on-demand services has already topped 3,000, according to a report from the European Audiovisual Observatory.
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Japan’s Niconico has announced that the first episode of anime series Sailor Moon Crystal has been viewed more than one million times with around 250,000 comments in just two days.
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New York-based streaming service Vyer Films is doubling its release schedule to offer four new films at the beginning of each month.
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Hulu has acquired exclusive US rights to Australian soap opera Neighbours from global programming giant FremantleMedia International. The show will be streamed on Hulu’s US ad-supported service and Hulu Plus subscription service from July 14. Daily episodes will be streamed from Monday to Friday. The five weekly episodes will air four weeks after broadcast in Australia.
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Australian VoD service EzyFlix.tv has signed a deal with Samsung Electronics that makes it fully compatible with Samsung’s WatchOn application. The full integration means users will be able to use the app to rent or buy programmes across EzyFlix’s entire content library and then watch them on any Samsung device from phones to tablets and smart TVs. Ezyflix already offers
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