Netflix Ramps Up Online Movies

Netflix will make more new movies available for instant viewing online at it slowly goes after TV pay channels such as HBO and Showtime. Netflix signed a deal with Relativity Media, a small film production company to get exclusive access to its movies after the theater runs. Upcoming films in the deal include The Fighter, with Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, and Season of the Witch with Nicolas Cage, reports the LA Times.

It's a small deal, but one that "sends a warning shot over the bows of the TV industry," writes Martin Peers at the Wall Street Journal. Netflix once wanted to be a partner with the pay channels, but now it's setting itself up to be a direct competitor. It will be a while before Netflix can outbid HBO, but parent Time Warner "cannot ignore the threat," writes Peers.
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