BitTorrent, a peer-assisted digital content delivery platform, today announced a slate of partnerships with a wide variety of leading film and television companies.
20th Century Fox, G4, Kadokawa Pictures USA, Lionsgate, MTV Networks , Palm Pictures, Paramount Pictures and Starz Media will publish movies and TV shows on BitTorrent.com.
By partnering with some of the most established entertainment studios and TV networks in the world, BitTorrent will be offering a comprehensive library of digital media content. Through these new partnerships, BitTorrent customers will be able to select from a variety of popular film titles from 20th Century Fox, Kadokawa, Lionsgate, Palm, Paramount and Starz Media such as "X-Men The Last Stand" and "Ringu."
Today's announcement is in addition to BitTorrent's previously announced partnerships with Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Egami Media, Hart Sharp, Koch Entertainment and The Orchard to further add depth and breadth to its digital library. The videos, which can be downloaded and viewed on a PC, laptop and other portable devices, include new film releases day-and-date with the DVD release, popular TV series, deep catalog titles and cult classics. One exception is Palm Pictures, as they plan to be the first studio to utilize the BitTorrent platform to release full-length feature films before the theatrical and DVD release dates. Most film titles will be available for purchase on a Download-to-Own (DTO) basis or for rent on a Video-on-Demand (VOD) basis, while TV content will be available for DTO only.
BitTorrent continues to work with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to remove copyright infringing content from its search results and, as evidenced by today's announcement, is working with studios to replace that content with a high-quality, legal option that aspires to compete with piracy. The service will offer not only video, but also music and games. BitTorrent will disclose pricing details closer to the time of the launch of the online retail marketplace, which is set for February 2007.