Films from 3 studios come to Dish streaming

Dish Network has signed a deal to make more movies available through its online video-streaming service, the satellite provider said today. The deal with Epix--a joint venture of Paramount Pictures, MGM, and Lionsgate--will give Dish customers access to more than 3,000 Epix films and programs via DishOnline.

According to Dish, its customers will be able to watch everything from "Iron Man 2" and "Shutter Island" to Bon Jovi concerts via DishOnline.

The streaming service is available at no additional charge to Dish Platinum customers, who pay an extra $10 per month on their television bills for 22 premium channels, including Epix, HD Theater, and others. In addition, Dish customers will be able to stream Epix content on the EpixHD Web site at no additional charge.

DishOnline itself is available to non-Dish customers. However, the content available to those folks is limited.

Though Dish and Epix didn't divulge the terms of their deal, the studios' joint venture has been known to fetch serious cash for access to its content. Last year, Epix signed a deal with Netflix for a reported $1 billion. The agreement allowed Netflix to offer some Epix content on its streaming service.

Dish's latest deal with Epix follows a flurry of activity in the streaming market as of late. Last week, Netflix signed an agreement with Paramount Pictures in Canada that provides the company with 350 of the studio's movies. In addition, it received "exclusive subscription television rights to all first-run films," which means Netflix customers will be able to watch Paramount's latest content before those who subscribe to HBO or Showtime.

A few days later, Netflix announced another deal with Twentieth Century Fox that will see some of that studio's top shows, including "Glee" and "Sons of Anarchy," come to its streaming service.