LOVEFiLM debuts 14 original pilot shows from Amazon Studios

Fourteen different shows, including Alpha House starring John Goodman, and Zombieland -  a spin-off of the Hollywood movie of the same name – will be put to the public vote to decide whether they get made into full series via our website while Amazon Instant Video will be doing the same in the states. You do not even need to be a member to watch these so anyone can check them out at  http://www.lovefilm.com/micro/amazon_originals

All are made by independent production companies but produced by Amazon Studios. “This is the first time Amazon Studios has done this,” said Simon Morris, LOVEFiLM’s chief marketing officer. “This isn’t X Factor for some new titles where you get to vote and they’re fairly gimmicky… It has a unique position in the world in that it has a platform that’s a pay platform, it has an entertainment platform.”

Outside of Zombeland, a personal favorite due to a love of zombies, the comedy pilots include:
Alpha House - starring John Goodman, which follows four US senators living in a rented house in Washington DC (with a great surprise cameo right at the start of the episode)
Betas -  based in Silcon Valley and features four friends who attempt to strike it rich with a mobile social networking app
Browsers - a musical comedy based on four young people in their first jobs at a news website
Dark Minions - a cartoon written by Big Bang Theory supporting actors Kevin Sussman and John Ross Bowie


The kids pilot shows include:
Annebots - which follows young scientist Anne and the three robots she’s created doing scientific experiments in her dad’s junkyard;
Positively Ozitively - where Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz’s daughter Dot heads to Oz;
Sara Solves It - featuring brother and sister duo Sara and Sam solving mysteries;
Teeny Tiny Dogs - a puppet show produced by Lisa Henson, daughter of Muppet creator Jim Henson and CEO of The Jim Henson Company
 

 

LOVEFiLM, BBC Worldwide Strike Deal For Kids Content

LOVEFiLM has struck a deal with BBC Worldwide which will see a number of BBC kids shows made available to members of the streaming service. Show’s covered by this deal include including The Story of Tracy Beaker, Teletubbies, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Balamory.

This builds on deals that LOVEFiLM has already made for libraries of children’s content from the likes of Aardman Animations, Marvel Entertainment and, most recently, Saban Brands, for 20 years’ worth of Power Rangers episodes.

Speaking of the deal, Chris Bird, Director of Film Strategy at LOVEFiLM, said: “We are committed to bringing the very best in children’s TV to our ever-increasing audience, and are thrilled to have secured even more brilliant BBC shows for members to enjoy. We have got some of the best family programming around and look forward to entertaining fans of all ages.”

A summary of recent months at LOVEFiLM

I wanted to take to time to update you on LOVEFiLM with some of the great achievements/milestones we have passed with the help of our affiliates, with 2012 being a very successful year LOVEFiLM now have over 2 million members!

LOVEFiLM everywhere
You might be aware we are on a lot of devices, but it’s much more than you think. LOVEFiLM Instant is available on over 280 Internet-enabled devices including PCs, PlayStation 3, iPad, Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Wii U, plus a growing number of Blu-ray players and internet-connected TVs including Sony, Samsung and LG.

More FiLM to LOVE (and TV series too)
In 2012 LOVEFiLM, an Amazon Company, and Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution announced a major multi-year content deal giving LOVEFiLM members streaming access to recent and forthcoming movies and TV series. The film deal commences with titles theatrically released in the UK in 2011, which will be made available to subscribers to the LOVEFiLM service as early as March 2013. This is the latest in a long line of content deals announced by LOVEFiLM in the past 12 months, including agreements with Warner Bros., Miramax, Aardman, Sony Pictures, NBCUniversal and Disney.

The deal with Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution will also give LOVEFiLM members access to movies and TV series from the studio’s library of much-loved titles, and will add to LOVEFiLM’s already extensive TV catalogue. TV titles from Twentieth Century Fox’s television library include seasons of motorcycle drama Sons of Anarchy and all seasons of 24, Prison Break, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel.

LOVEFiLM also continues to offer all the latest releases on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-Ray 3D (plus games) via its LOVEFiLM By Post service.

LOVEFiLM in HD
Watching movies has never been clearer. LOVEFiLM now stream movies and TV series on demand for no extra charge in HDTV resolutions up to 1080p. Instant members using PC or Mac, will enjoy content in full 1080p high definition, while members using their Xbox 360 or Samsung and LG connected HDTVs will enjoy 720p resolution.

Introducing the Amazon Kindle Fire
December 2012 saw the launch of Amazon’s new tablet the Kindle Fire, available in HD with a 1280x800 HD display with polarising filter and anti-glare technology for rich colour and deep contrast from any viewing angle which is perfect for watching LOVEFiLM Instant. LOVEFiLM is already built-in to the Kindle Fire so there’s every reason to sign up for an account.

As always we value your opinion so if you have any ideas or feedback please do get in touch – Below are the best contacts to use:

Nicky March – nicky.march@lovefilm.com – Skype nickymarch
Alison O’Donoghue - alison.odonoghue@affiliatewindow.com

Useful links for LOVEFiLM Information

Apologies for the lack of updates lately, some will follow soon. To stay up to date with all LOVEFiLM news please see our Press Releases and the Inside LOVEFiLM Blog

The All New Kindle Fire HD is here

LOVEFiLM Instant now in HD

Our members can now start watching LOVEFiLM Instant in High definition, all at no extra cost on top of their current package prices. Another great reason to sign up to LOVEFiLm and another strong selling point of our service for our affiliates to promote.

Jim Buckle, managing director of Lovefilm, commented, "Lovefilm is the number one consumer choice for subscription film and TV series streaming in Europe. The introduction of HD quality content further strengthens the offering and marks another key milestone in delivering our members the best possible service with exceptional value."

Titles you can now watch in HD include teen sensation The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, family favourite Gnomeo and Juliet and British comedy Four Lions. Top US TV dramas including Lost and Ghost Whisperer will also be available alongside a whole host of British titles, including the BBC’s popular documentaries Human Planet and David Attenborough’s Planet Earth.


New creative is being developed to promote our HD range and the messaging is being added to landing pages. We advise affiliates to also promote the news as many for many potential customers this is a key factor in signing up.

LOVEFiLM signs exclusive multi-year streaming deal with NBCUniversal

LOVEFiLM has announced that it has signed a multiyear agreement with NBCUniversal.

LOVEFiLM subscribers will get exclusive streaming access during the second pay window from Universal Pictures. The deal will bring recent and new release movie titles to the instant streaming service costing £4.99 monthly.

LoveFilm said the multi-year digital license agreement will see Universal films available on all of its digital platforms, including Xbox, Playstation and iOS devices.

Jim Buckle, MD of LOVEFiLM, said: “LOVEFiLM is proud to offer its members access to the highest quality content across multiple platforms from another of the world’s most respected studios. NBCUniversal is also LOVEFiLM’s latest exclusive streaming deal in our quest to deliver the widest choice of content on as many platforms as possible.”

Additional Universal Pictures titles available to watch instantly by LOVEFiLM members in the UK will include ‘It’s Complicated’, ‘Nanny McPhee Returns’, ‘Leap Year’, ‘Green Zone’, ‘The Wolfman’, ‘Robin Hood’, ‘Scott Pilgrim vs The World’, ‘The American’, ‘Paul’, ‘Fast And Furious 5′, ‘Bridesmaids’, ‘Johnny English Reborn’, ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’, ‘Bourne Legacy’, ‘Dr Seuss’ The Lorax’ and ‘Safe House’.

Streaming Service Overtakes DVD at LOVEFiLM for the First Time

LOVEFiLM, an Amazon company and pioneer of internet film delivery in Europe, announced today that in February, for the first time ever, LOVEFiLM members streamed more films and TV series instantly over the Internet via LOVEFiLM Instant than rented DVDs, Blu-rays and Games.

The number of films and TV episodes streamed online through Internet-connected devices including games consoles and connected TVs exceeded the number of DVDs, Blu-rays and Games rented by over 20%. This represents an increase on the same month last year of over 400%, while the rental of physical product is also growing, up over 25% over the year.

Jim Buckle, Managing Director of AMAZON's LOVEFiLM, commented: "The first quarter of 2012 has shown us two things: that LOVEFiLM members are watching more films and TV series both on the Internet and on DVD than ever before and; in less than three years, streaming through LOVEFiLM Instant has become more popular than renting DVDs.

Our members crave instant on-demand access. With more world-class digital content being added to LOVEFiLM Instant and a growing number of Internet-connected devices delivering it to members' living rooms we expect this trend to continue. At the same time, many of our members continue to enjoy the combination of LOVEFiLM Instant and LOVEFiLM By Post in one, great value for money subscription, with both services growing rapidly."

Amazon's LOVEFiLM surpassed two million members in January 2012, cementing its position as Europe's largest subscription service for streaming films and TV series over the Internet and sending DVDs and games by post. LOVEFiLM pioneered Internet film delivery in the UK through the world's first download-to-own service in 2006. By 2009 LOVEFiLM had launched the UK's first subscription film and TV series streaming service which, inDecember 2011, became LOVEFiLM Instant, a standalone service streaming on PCs and through over 175 internet-connected devices including Xbox, PS3, internet-connected TVs (SONY, Samsung and LG) and iPad.

Amazon's LOVEFiLM is constantly adding to the range of film and TV series on LOVEFiLM Instant having signed major content deals including Sony, Warner Bros., STUDIOCANAL, ITV, ABC, and BBC, and offering exclusive titles including vampire phenomenon The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, action-thriller Source Code and, coming soon, critically-acclaimed Tinker Tailor Solider Spy.

Happy Valentine's Day from LOVEFiLM

Check out a special Valentine's Day message from LOVEFiLM

Improved free trial offer - a better promotion for affiliates

Great news! As from 25^th January 2012 all  free trial lengths will increase from 14 to 30 days across our affiliate channel, this will be supported by TV, search and other marketing. By extending the trial length for affiliates we are confident this offer improvement will help you when promoting the LOVEFiLM campaign, however if there is something else you need please do not hesitate to contact me and we can discuss your needs. We appreciate this is short notice for the change but please do ensure you update your copy/content/site as soon as possible to make best use of the new offer!