Netflix & Epix Join Forces For Streaming Deal, While Blockbuster Attempts To Stave Off Bankruptcy By Adding Video Game Rentals To Their Mail Services

The war for video rental/streaming domination has just gotten a tad bit more interesting.

First, in what may be the biggest story in this front in a very long time, Netflix has announced that the company will be teaming with subscription pay TV brand EPIX, to stream films from the likes of Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM, only 90 days after the films premiere on EPIX. This means that films like the Bond franchise, Star Trek and the Saw franchises will soon be available for Netflix subscribers, to stream online or on their streaming capable devices like the Wii or XBOX 360.

This comes after news that the brick and mortar giant, and the previous big man on campus, Blockbuster, may be facing bankruptcy, which according to insiders, is ‘imminent.’ Home Media Magazine is reporting that Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities in LA, has said that the company will more than likely be allowed to hold bankruptcy proceedings, which will need to extend the company’s current forbearance agreement.

However, not all may be lost for Blockbuster as a company though, at least on non cinematic fronts.

In hopes to save the brand, we have learned that Blockbuster has added roughly 3000 video games to their pay by mail service, making it now the most cost effective video game rental service, as opposed to king of that front, Gamefly, which currently holds a 16$ price tag. While I don’t know how this will play to cinephiles, I know that there are many film fans out there who also play video games, so while it takes up a disc that could be used for a DVD rental, the idea of being able to rent both films and video games, is definitely an interesting idea.

Sure, Blockbuster doesn’t have the selection of Netflix film wise, but I do have to say, it seems like Blockbuster has finally gotten a leg, albeit a bruised and battered one, up on Netflix.

What do you think?

Source: Netflix / HMM / AP