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The Social Network
The Social Network, just one of the films that LoveFilm will gain the streaming rights to. Photograph: Allstar/Columbia Pictures/Sportsphoto Ltd
The Social Network, just one of the films that LoveFilm will gain the streaming rights to. Photograph: Allstar/Columbia Pictures/Sportsphoto Ltd

LoveFilm signs streaming deal with Sony Pictures Television

This article is more than 12 years old
Deal gives Lovefilm the right to stream titles including The Social Network and Salt as it steps up its rivalry with Netflix

Amazon's LoveFilm is continuing its film and TV content rights war with US rival Netflix, signing a deal with Sony Pictures Television for the right to stream titles including The Social Network and Salt.

The deal, which comes a day after Netflix signed a content deal with BBC Worldwide, includes films and children's TV titles such as the animated Transformers, Spectacular Spiderman and Karate Kid series.

LoveFilm has struck a multi-year deal with Sony for the exclusive streaming rights in what is referred to as the "second subscription pay-TV window", a similar style deal to the one it struck with Warner Bros which does not affect existing deals with companies such as Sky.

The deal does, however, block Netflix which is in a race to secure similar deals ahead of launching in the UK and Ireland early next year.

LoveFilm has deals in place with Entertainment One, which has rights to films such as the Twilight Saga; Studio Canal – formerly Optimum Releasing – the distribution company behind movies including Source Code, Attack the Block and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; Disney, Lionsgate and Momentum.

"The number of recent high profile deals we have secured means we are able to keep expanding the service, offering our members high quality films and TV and the ability to watch as much as they want for one low monthly price," said the LoveFilm chief executive, Simon Calver.

Netflix has also struck a number of deals including with Miramax, Lionsgate and MGM for films including Pulp Fiction, Kick-Ass and The Hobbit.

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