The Criterion Collection has announced the upcoming launch of an all-new streaming service aimed at classic movie fans, called the "Criterion Channel." Launching on April 8 in the United States and Canada, Criterion Channel will include over 1,000 classic and contemporary films for $10.99/month (via Variety).
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Subscribers will also be able to pay $99.99 for an annual subscription, and each tier will include a 30-day free trial. Those who sign up now will get discounted prices, including $9.99/month and $89.99/year. The company says these prices will be locked in "for as long as you stay active."
Criterion Channel will be available on the web, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Android, Fire TV, and Roku devices. The company hasn't yet revealed specific movies that will be in the service, but confirmed that it will allow access to Criterion's entire streaming library and offer "constantly refreshed selections" of Hollywood, international, art-house, and indie movies.
The service's apps will showcase new films and content each day, including Sunday Spotlights on directors, stars, genres, and themes; Tuesday's Short + Feature; Friday Double Bill; and more. There will also be movie recommendations from filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro, Mira Nair, and Barry Jenkins offered within the app.
The new service will launch six months after AT&T and Warner Media shuttered FilmStruck, a service that was focused on classic films and was the only streaming home for the Criterion Collection. Turner and WB Digital Networks at the time said that FilmStruck remained "largely a niche service" for its entire run, leading to the decision to shut it down.
The Criterion Collection will now be exclusively available to stream on the Criterion Channel. If you're interested in signing up for the Criterion Channel to get the discounted price, you can do so now on the service's website.
Top Rated Comments
They complained for years about breaking up big cable and for studios to offer a la carte content.
People who warned that a la carte would be expensive were shouted down.
Studios start to offer a la carte.
Reality of what was forewarned has set in.
People complain about a la carte.... now want content in one place.
In other news web traffic to pirate bay saw an increase of 6000% in the last quarter.
As much as I love being cynical towards Apple these days... this would be a stellar time for them to introduce something to really shake up this industry just like they did with iTunes/iPod when mp3 pirating was at it's peak.