Dive Brief:
- Epix, the pay TV network with 14 million subscribers, started a video streaming service that connects smartphones and TVs without the need for new hardware. The new Epix Cast lets a viewer select a movie from a mobile application and play it on any internet-connected TV.
- The smartphone app, which is available for Android and Apple, works by identifying all the TVs and devices connected to a home Wi-Fi network. Viewers can watch a show on one TV and switch seamlessly to a different TV in another room. The video stream will continue to work even if the smartphone is turned off.
- Using technology from Vizbee, Epix Cast works with smart TVs from LG, Sony and Vizio, among others. It’s also available on Google Chromecast and Sony-connected Blu-ray players. Samsung smart TVs, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, TiVo and Xbox will be added in the next few weeks, according to a statement.
Dive Insight:
Epix still has a lot of collaborative spirit a month after co-founder MGM bought out partners Viacom and Lions Gate Entertainment for $1 billion. The network’s Epix Cast works on a variety of TVs without special equipment or native apps, although that doesn’t mean the network will stop developing apps for Apple, Android, Playstation and Xbox, TechCrunch reported.
While Epix Cast requires a cable or satellite subscription to work, Chief Digital Officer Jon Dakss said the network is considering the possibility of starting a standalone service for “cord cutters.” Time Warner’s HBO Now, for example, charges $14.99 a month for an internet-only subscription while earlier this week Hulu launched a $39.99-per-month service that includes 50-plus channels.
Of course, providing a standalone service means competing more directly with internet-only services like Netflix, Amazon, YouTube and possibly Facebook. The crowded market requires deep pockets for programming. Although Epix has some original shows, the premium network remains focused on giving subscribers more ways to enjoy its specialty in big-budget feature films.
