Amazon has finally taken over Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and its assets to turn things around for the best. One of the assets Amazon now owns is EPIX. Though Amazon doesn’t need the channel or the streaming service. They can move EPIX’s originals and movies to its streaming services, Prime Video and IMDb TV.
EPIX, founded in 2008, was a joint venture between MGM, Lionsgate, and Paramount Pictures, but the latter two dropped their shares. EPIX is still Paramount’s pay-1 holder for its movies after theaters. But a deal in 2021 allowed some movies to skip the pay-1 window and stream on Paramount+ after 45 days. Paramount+ and Hulu gain movies from EPIX through a sub-licensing agreement.
If Amazon ever decides to close EPIX (and they will) and preexisting deals don’t carry over to Prime Video (will most likely happen), Paramount+ would quickly become Paramount Pictures’ new pay-1 holder, surpassing the wait until 2024 for the window to expire. Amazon Prime Video will also become MGM’s new pay-1 holder for films that go to theaters. Hulu, on the other hand, would effectively lose over 2,000 movies.
In the end, it’s still a win for both Amazon and Paramount (not soo much for Disney). Both will gain and make their services valuable to both consumers and investors. Let’s just see how long Amazon would take its first moves.
What do you think will happen to EPIX?