EpixHD Beta Launches, Touted As the “Hulu” of Movies

Add another feature length film site to the mix: EpixHD is a joint venture between Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate and MGM. Now in a private beta, the site apparently offers full feature length content at 720p. Check it out:

The beta site, EpixHD, streams a selection of 100-plus movies without advertisements to an invited group of users. A spokesman for Studio 3 Networks, the name of the joint venture company behind the service, confirmed the launch, but didn’t provide other details on the service.

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Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate and MGM joined a year ago to launch Epix, envisioned as a premium cable movie channel and subscription online movie service competing against HBO, Showtime and Starz. Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman said at a conference in March that the channel would be available on TV in October, despite reports that backers have had trouble getting cable and satellite companies to distribute it. Once the TV channel launches, users would have to subscribe to watch programs online.

Epix president Mark Greenberg told USA Today in March that the site would include movies from its studio partners nine months after they debut in theaters. That would put them online and on cable TV months after their debut on DVD and VOD but before their traditional release on premium cable channels.

Early reports confirm that films such as “Iron Man” and “Cloverfield” are on offer. Thanks VidBiz.