Studios band together to form cable/streaming channel with newly released films and behind-the-scenes content

Studio 3 Networks, a joint venture formed by Viacom, Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Lionsgate, announced that it’s launching a next-generation entertainment service called epix. The service will provide access to films and original entertainment programming on television, along with on-demand access via broadband. Epix will make movies and entertainment accessible on multiple platforms, and is expected to launch in the fall of 2009. It will combine new and classic feature films and original television series from an array of film studios, including it’s partners.

“With epix, we are creating an entirely new category of entertainment service for consumers that is unlike anything that currently exists,” said Mark Greenberg, President of Studio 3 Networks. “epix is the first brand to hold exclusive exhibition rights to movie content that can be delivered anywhere, anytime. The name epix embodies the depth and breadth of entertainment content this brand will deliver and also captures the uniquely personal way that consumers will be interacting with great Hollywood movie content and original programming.”

At launch, epix will feature feature films including those recently released by Paramount, Paramount Vantage, MGM, United Artists and Lionsgate as well as classic films. Films available at launch will include The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Cloverfield, Defiance, Drillbit Taylor, The Duchess, How She Move, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Iron Man, Kill Theory, My Bloody Valentine 3-D, New in Town, Pink Panther 2, Shine A Light, Son of Rambow, Stop-Loss, Strange Wilderness, The Spiderwick Chronicles and Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail. epix will also have the rights to all 17 re-mastered James Bond movies as well as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Among the most unique and compelling features provided on demand and online will be access to directors’ script notes, outtakes, auditions and other unique extras including trivia and games which will give consumers unfettered access to behind the scenes development of these films.