Netflix gets exclusive rights to Logo shows
Three series will be available for DVD rental, streaming
By Danny King -- Video Business, 5/29/2008
MAY 29 | Netflix obtained the exclusive rights to distribute home videos for at least three shows from Viacom’s gay- and lesbian-themed Logo network, the companies said today.
Logo will make Curl Girls, Visible Vote 08: A Presidential Forum and Wisecrack available to Netflix customers, while promoting Netflix on affiliated Web sites such as AfterEllen.com, AfterElton.com, Downelink.com and 365gay.com. In return, Netflix, will create a special section on its Web site for Logo titles, which can be either ordered as rental DVDs or streamed online.
Netflix, which boosted its first-quarter subscriber base 21% from a year earlier to 8.24 million, is trying to attract more customers by reaching exclusive agreements with content producers. In November, Netflix reached a deal with General Electric unit NBC Universal that allows customers to watch shows such as Heroes online the day after their original air date.
Netflix also is expanding its video-streaming operations. Last week, the company started selling a $99.99 set-top box that allows subscribers to stream movies directly to their TV sets from Netflix’s Web site, marking its first foray into streaming media directly to customers’ TVs. Netflix started its streaming service for personal computers last year and has since boosted its inventory to 10,000 from 2,000 titles.
“Through such ventures, we are able to broaden our scope by becoming a destination for contemporary and relevant material, which grants audiences immediate access to hard-to-find programming through our DVD and streaming platforms,” said Liesl Copland, head of original content for Netflix, in a statement.
Netflix and Logo also will partner in acquiring new shows that may be released for home video and broadcast on Logo concurrently. Viacom launched Logo last year as part of its MTV Networks unit.
