This week Netflix (NFLX) announced that it has struck a $1 billion deal to provide more television shows and movies to its online streaming service. The deal is with Epix, a pay cable channel backed by three large studios: Viacom, Lions Gate Entertainment and MGM Studios. (Never heard of Epix? That’s because many major cable companies, including DirectTV and Comcast don’t carry it.) The deal, which begins on September 1, will cost Netflix about $200 million a year for five years. Epix will provide new releases like “Iron Man” to Netflix’s streaming service that the company offers as part...
