Move over Showtime, Netflix just took your seat at the big kids’ media table

By Caleb Denison August 21, 2013

move over showtime netflix just took your seat at the big kids media table grandmaster 2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Netflix is paving the path for next-generation pay-TV. Late last year, Netflix cemented a deal with Disney, which will give its streaming media service exclusive rights to Disney’s content for at least three years starting in 2016. The deal effectively yanked the rug out from under pay-TV service, Starz, putting it in direct competition with similar services such as HBO and Showtime. Now, a recent statement from Netflix confirms that it has more rug-yanking planned as it has now inked a similar deal with The Weinstein Company (TWC).

According to the statement, the deal is similar to Netflix’s deal with Disney in that it will get exclusive rights and quick access to first-run movies from TWC. Previously, this exclusive deal belonged to pay-TV service Showtime, an arrangement which began in 2009.

Netflix already has some of TWC’s content available now, including titles such as Academy Award winning Best Picture, The Artist, and Best Documentary Feature, Undefeated. But beginning in 2016, Netflix will become the exclusive pay-TV portal through which TWC’s first-run films can be viewed. Forthcoming TWC titles include The Grandmaster, Salinger, and Vampire Academy.

Lest there be any question around Netflix’s intentions to dominate the pay-TV space, Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer for Netflix stated, “We look forward to reinventing the pay TV window with the Weinsteins.” But these recent deals are just part of Netflix’s overall strategy to redefine TV amid the company of some highly-resistant Stalwarts of media. Netflix’s efforts to produce original content are also bearing serious fruit. Both Orange Is The New Black, and House of Cards are being met with critical acclaim, and the latter of the two has racked up nine Emmy nominations.

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What to shop for in the Walmart Vizio TV sale
Vizio is one of the best TV brands for variety and this sale shows how varied it is. One TV that we instantly gravitate towards is the It usually costs $628 but it’s currently $100 off so it costs just $528. The instant highlight is the large screen but it’s packed with features too. It has Dolby Vision Bright Mode for more lifelike accuracy, color saturation, black detail, and brightness. There’s a full array backlight to ensure LEDs are evenly distributed across the backlight, while active pixel tuning provides intelligent pixel-level adjustments that tune the contrast levels frame by frame in over 2,000 zones. An IQ Active Processor ensures excellent 4K upscaling while the V-Gaming Engine ensures you get the optimal gaming experience automatically with sub 10ms input lag, variable refresh rates, and a finely tuned picture mode. It’s sure to be the best TV for many people.

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Anker’s Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds are next-level sleep aids to block out noise

Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds worn while sleeping on side

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