Vimeo Launches Global TV Store With Lionsgate, Adds Starz as Partner
Vimeo officially launched its new global television storefront Tuesday in partnership with Lionsgate, offering the studio’s TV series including “Orange Is the New Black,” “Casual,” “The Royals,” “Mad Men” and “Weeds” for sale to consumers in more than 150 countries worldwide.
IAC-owned Vimeo also announced Starz — which is the midst of merging with Lionsgate — as the second partner to license its programming to the digital storefront. In the next few weeks, Starz’s will make three original shows available on Vimeo: limited series “The Girlfriend Experience,” horror-comedy series “Ash vs Evil Dead” (pictured above) and drama “Black Sails.”
“Vimeo is undoubtedly one of the most cutting-edge online video platforms and Starz is very pleased to join Lionsgate in agreeing to provide content to Vimeo’s storefront,” said Starz COO Jeffrey Hirsch.
For Vimeo, long a home for independent filmmakers to share and monetize their works, the partnerships with Hollywood studios for the TV storefront represent an effort to generate a new revenue stream. The company announced its pact with Lionsgate last month.
“As audiences across the globe continue to shift towards online viewing, Vimeo is taking a leadership role, establishing our On Demand storefront as the world’s first transactional service to offer premium television on a truly global basis,” said Sam Toles, Vimeo’s senior VP of programming.
Vimeo’s Toles announced the launch of the TV storefront at Mipcom, along with Jim Packer, Lionsgate president of worldwide television and digital distribution.
Other Lionsgate shows currently available for purchase through Vimeo include catalog titles like “Nurse Jackie,” “Boss,” “Blue Mountain State” and “Manhattan.”
Related stories
YouTube Comedian-DJ Flula Borg Inks Lionsgate Deal for Two Movies (EXCLUSIVE)
Lionsgate Extends Jon Feltheimer's Deal to 2023
Lionsgate Taps Gisela Asimus-Minnbergh for TV Sales Post
Get more from Variety and Variety411: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter
