Asian OTT Service iflix Scores Content Deals with MGM, Paramount, Starz

June 30, 2015 World Screen Top Stories
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KUALA LUMPUR: The Southeast Asian internet TV service iflix is building up its catalogue through new content deals signed with Paramount Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), in addition to scoring titles from Starz Digital.

With MGM, iflix is picking up a package of TV series and films. This includes classic franchises such as The Pink Panther and Legally Blonde as well as cult classic films Fargo and Get Shorty. As for series, the service scored the comedy Will and Grace, the international hit Vikings and more.

Via Paramount Pictures, iflix gains such titles as the global franchises Star Trek and Transformers, the animated hits Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda and the action-packed movies G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and Watchmen.

iflix also inked a deal for the exclusive streaming rights in Malaysia and the Philippines for the Starz original dramas Black Sails, The White Queen and Spartacus.

The group CEO of iflix, Mark Britt, commented: “MGM is world renown[ed] for producing extraordinarily popular, award-winning content. We are excited to be able to offer such great TV shows and movies to iflix subscribers.”

Britt continued: “We have made a commitment to deliver the best selection of television series and movies to Southeast Asian consumers. This deal with MGM is an integral piece in fulfilling that promise.”

Chris Ottinger, the president of international television distribution and acquisitions at MGM, said: “MGM is thrilled to provide iflix subscribers a wide variety of premium, entertaining content, including new and classic titles from our catalogue, as well as our hugely popular series Vikings.”

Britt added: “Paramount Pictures has a well-established history of excellence in producing popular and award-winning movies. This agreement will make a wealth of exceptional films available to our audiences, and we look forward to working with Paramount Pictures to bring more amazing movies to our subscribers in the years ahead.”

Jonathan Greenberg, the senior VP of worldwide television licensing and distribution for Paramount Pictures, remarked: “We are excited to work with iflix to bring some of the best and most beloved films in cinema history to its subscribers.”

Britt commented: “Our partnership with Starz Digital brings a phenomenal mix of immersive dramas to our members. We strive continuously to provide the best content available to our subscribers. We are incredibly excited to be able to offer brilliant shows that are global phenomena like Black Sails, The White Queen and Spartacus to stream on iflix.”

“Viewer demand for premium content in the digital and internet TV space is exploding worldwide,” said Mara Winokur, the senior VP of digital at Starz. “Starz Digital looks for strong distribution platforms in each territory that can premiere and market our shows to new audiences. iflix has created an outstanding internet TV service for consumers in Southeast Asia and we are very excited to partner with them on several of our hit Starz original series and other licensed Starz Digital TV content.”