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Is Netflix About to Get in a Fight?

Kristen Hawley — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 01:12:50 PDT

After securing its own original series earlier this month, things seem to be changing for Netflix. Showtime recently announced changes to its Netflix deal that excludes new show episodes from being available on Netflix streaming shortly after they air. Now, Starz has followed suit, declining to add their content to Netflix streaming the day after they air.

As networks start to see Netflix as a competitor rather than an ally, this behavior is likely to continue. In fact, Starz has said it plans to enact a similar policy for movies after the current contract expires in 2012. So, is Netflix just becoming another premium network? I say they are, especially given devices like Apple TV, Google TV, and even mobile devices like the new 3DS with Netflix access. With the right moves, Netflix is poised to be a major threat.

Still, the service is only as good as the content it provides, which means that networks do still have some control over its success and failure. Its first original series won't hit the Internet for at least another year or more, so I'm interested to see what happens in the mean time.

Swords, Sex, and Sorcery in the Camelot Trailer

Lauren Bradshaw — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 04:30:00 PST

Well, this certainly isn't anything like the musical version of Camelot. Starz has just revealed the trailer for its upcoming spin on the story of Arthur, which is definitely darker than what you may expect. Debuting April 1, the series boasts an impressive lineup of stars led by the Twilight saga's Jamie Campbell Bower as the young king. Also appearing: Joseph Fiennes as Merlin and Eva Green as Arthur's half sister Morgan, who will stop at nothing to claim the throne for herself - even if it includes black magic.

Do I have your interest yet? If not, how's this: young Arthur on a beach, getting hot and heavy with Guinevere (Tamsin Egerton). Yup, there's some sexy time in the midst of all that swordplay, so find out if the series is worth your time after the jump.

Link Time - Peter Sarsgaard to Play the Father of Bluegrass

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:45:36 PDT

Peter Sarsgaard will portray the Father of Bluegrass onscreen - The Wrap
Premiere dates for Gossip Girl, VD, and more CW shows! - Give Me My Remote
Party Down gets the ax - Televisionary
Rob Lowe's developing a reality series set in Washington DC - TV Squad
Brothers and Sisters loses Emily VanCamp - Ausiello Files
Meet the new Big Brother cast - People
The Kardashian girls will guest star on the 90210 premiere - Watch With Kristin
Larry King has announced he's retiring from Larry King Live - Huffington Post
The fifth Final Destination film will be titled 5nal Destination. Ugh. - Movieline
A plea to cancel The Office - TV.com
Who is the hottest Robert Pattinson? - TrèsSugar

Starz Developing Gael Greene's Life Into a TV Series

YumSugar — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:30:59 PDT

If seeing the crotchety Gael Greene once a week as a judge on Top Chef Masters is already enough for you, then brace yourself: she may soon be the subject of a television series on cable network Starz. The premium channel is developing Greene's book, Insatiable: Tales from a Life of Delicious Excess, into an hourlong series.

The polarizing memoir covers not only Greene's 40 years as the restaurant critic at New York Magazine, but also her days at Studio 54 in the 1970s and her infamous trysts with chefs, porn stars, and celebrities like Elvis Presley, Burt Reynolds, and Clint Eastwood. "I am flying," Greene said of the new project. Starz CEO Chris Albrecht called the book "a story that will lend itself to a richly entertaining series well suited to premium television."

I agree, but I'm not sure how much of her over-the-top personality I can stand. Would you watch the show?

Photo courtesy of Bravo

First Look: Crash, the Series

BuzzSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:34:16 PDT

What does an Oscar-winning movie look like when translated onto the small screen, with an entirely different cast and set of stories? That's the question Crash will have to answer when it premieres on Starz next month.

The 2006 Best Picture's producers (including Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco) are on board for the 13-episode series, which features nine new characters with intersecting lives as they travel through Los Angeles. Save for Dennis Hopper, who's playing an aging maverick record producer, the cast features mostly unknown or little-known actors (DB Sweeney and Jocko Sims may be the best-known of the bunch).

When we first talked about the show, most of you said you wouldn't be interested in watching. I'm wondering if any of the new video footage of the show changes your mind. After the jump, you can see a quick preview, but the better taste is the full trailer, which you can see over on the show's website. Leaving aside the issue of whether you actually have Starz, does this look like a show you'd watch when it premieres Oct. 17? To watch the preview, just

Would You Watch a TV Series Based on Crash?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:30:00 PST

We recently heard the news that Starz is turning the 2006 Best Picture Oscar winner Crash into a television series. Much of the movie's original creative team - including the director Paul Haggis and his co-writer Bobby Moresco - is reassembling for the project, which is encouraging, though I still wonder what shape it will take. According to Don Cheadle, who will produce the series, "This series will present an opportunity to delve into many subjects, not just race relations in LA. I don't think you can do 13 episodes on that subject and keep people interested."

What do you think about the idea to make a Crash series? Will you be watching?

Source

Buzz News Roundup, 1/28

BuzzSugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:30:45 PST

Hollywood Reporter has news that Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy) is in talks to direct the Hobbit films that Peter Jackson will produce.
The FCC is fining ABC $1.4 million for nudity in an NYPD Blue episode that aired more than four years ago, Zap2it reports.
According to ComingSoon, five more actors (Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum, Giovanni Ribisi, Stephen Dorff and Jason Clarke) have joined Christian Bale and Johnny Depp in Public Enemies.
Starz is planning a TV series based on the Oscar-winning film Crash, with its writer/director, Paul Haggis, on board, TV Week reports.
Billboard reports that R.E.M. has recruited Modest Mouse and the National as opening acts for its upcoming tour.
Joel and Ethan Coen took top honors at the Directors Guild of America awards, and Mad Men and Pushing Daisies nabbed television awards, the Associated Press reports.
Julia Roberts will produce and star in Hothouse Flowers, a film adaptation of the upcoming novel by Margot Berwin, writes Hollywood Reporter.
There's another dancing reality show coming: Lifetime will air Your Mama Don't Dance, a series pairing professional dancers with their two-left-footed parents, Variety reports.

Source

Do You Subscribe to Premium Cable Channels?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 06:00:29 PDT

Are You Excited About Game of Thrones?

Shannon Vestal — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 05:30:00 PDT

HBO's new series Game of Thrones premieres tonight, bringing with it a new angle on medieval times. Based on the novels of the same name, the fantasy series follows the fictional Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and the wars among them and within each noble family for control of the throne. Lord of the Rings' Sean Bean stars as key player Eddard Stark.

It's a good time to get your Dark Ages-set TV fix, as Starz's series Camelot is also currently on, but Game of Thrones has a different feel, which I'd chalk up to its being on HBO. The cable network has been going all out promotion-wise, and by the looks of the Game of Thrones trailer, the show will have no shortage of sex, violence, and mystery. So I'm curious about who's going to watch it, and why - are you a fan of the books, or are you just drawn to the genre?

Photo courtesy of HBO

Morning Movie Streaming News: Facebook and Netflix

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:28:22 PDT

Earlier this month, Facebook announced a partnership with Warner Bros. that allow members to stream select full-length movies through each movie's official Facebook fan page for just $3. At the time, only one title was made available - The Dark Knight - but now, Warner Bros. is releasing five more titles for your movie-watching pleasure.

Starting at 10 p.m. PST, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Inception, Life as We Know It, and Yogi Bear will be available to rent and stream for 30 Facebook credits ($3). Users will have up to 48 hours to tune in and will still have access to Facebook updates, news feeds, and more while watching. Have any of you streamed The Dark Knight via Facebook? Let us know about your experience and if you'll be watching any of the new additions.

But there's more streaming movie news - hear what's up with Netflix after the break.