Netflix Signs Streaming Deal with Relativity

By Geoff Duncan Updated July 6, 2010

Movie rental and streaming giant Netflix has inked a deal with independent film producer Relativity Media that will enable Netflix to offer Relativity films for online streaming during the window of availability currently reserved for pay TV networks like Showtime, Starz, and HBO. Taking on subscription-based cable and satellite services that make some of their money on recent film releases.

Financial terms of the deal have not been released. The first movie covered by the deal is apparently the Christian Bale/Mark Walhberg picture The Fighter, along with Skyline, Movie 43, and Season of the Witch—all of which are scheduled for theatrical release later this year, and will now be available via Netflix within months of their DVD release.

Netflix’s deal with Relativity is a new move for the company: in recent years, distribution rights to films like these are pre-sold to pay-TV networks, sometimes with very long exclusivity terms. The deal marks the first time theatrical feature films will be legally available for streaming by Netflix instead of going first to pay-TV channels.

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Netflix free trial: Can you stream for free in 2023?

Netflix is the godfather of streaming. It basically started the entire movie streaming concept and reinvented it when it launched its first original program, House of Cards. The streaming market is a bit more crowded now, but Netflix still has some unbeatable programming. Netflix prices have risen over the last few years, and there are some hints that it might keep rising. If you're thinking about joining or rejoining the streaming giant, but aren't quite sure, you're probably looking for a free trial. We've collected all the information you need to know on how to save some money with a new Netflix account.
Is there a Netflix free trial?

Just as there's no Disney Plus free trial, you're out of luck if you're hoping to find a Netflix free trial on offer right now. There was a 30-day free trial in the past but Netflix scuttled it a couple of years ago, and we don't anticipate it coming back any time soon. Unlike some other streaming services (the excellent 30-day Hulu free trial comes to mind), Netflix doesn't appear to feel obliged to run free-trial offers. That's a tough break for the "try before you buy" crowd, but the sad truth is that, like Disney+, Netflix has a pretty captive audience and doesn't really need to do much to entice people to sign up. The good news is that Netflix has flexible plans, allowing you to upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your subscription at any time with no punitive fees. There are no contracts or commitments to worry about if you decide the service isn't for you, or just want to take a break for awhile.

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Where to rent DVDs and Blu-rays as Netflix ends disc rentals

Redbox DVD rentals.

After a formidable 25-year run, Netflix has announced that it will shutter its DVD-to-mail rental service, DVD Netflix, aka DVD.com. Citing the shrinking DVD business, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos told shareholders on April 18 that the rental service would be shipping its last DVD on September 29, 2023.
And while most of the 230 million Netflix subscribers won’t miss the service -- or perhaps even knew it still existed in the first place -- DVDs and Blu-rays are still a preferred method for watching movies and TV series if you really care about quality or just don't have broadband internet.
But now that DVD Netflix is out of the game, where can people turn to rent DVDs and Blu-rays?
Well, as the news hit Twitter, two of the best alternatives chimed in, reminding their followers that they, too, still existed. GameFly -- which primarily rents video games, but also has a selection of movies for rent -- tweeted at popular kiosk-rental company Redbox with a Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid gif and the text “Out here with @redbox like … .” The two services exchanged clever gifs and tweets (Redbox and Blockbuster even exchanged jabs) about being the last ones standing, but it still might be unclear to many DVD Netflix renters where they can go to fill the void.
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Redbox

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How to Get Rich on Netflix.

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