BitTorrent signs more movie studios, TV networks

BitTorrent, the creators of the peer-to-peer technology often blamed for Internet piracy, have today announced a deal in which it will legally distribute movies and TV shows from an increased number of providers. Fox, G4, Kadokawa Pictures, Palm Pictures, Lions Gate, MTV Networks and Paramount have all agreed to publish media on the BitTorrent website. This comes in addition to earlier deals with Warner Brothers, Egami Media, Hart Sharp, Koch Entertainment, and The Orchard. Movies will generally be released the same day as their DVDs, with the exception Palm, which intends to release at least some films to BitTorrent before their theatrical debuts. All movies will be released on either a Download-to-Own (DTO) and/or a Video-on-Demand (VOD) basis. TV shows will be DTO only. Initial titles set to release through the new deal include "24," "13 Tzameti," "Ghost in the Shell," "South Park," and "Spongebob Squarepants." BitTorrent's online marketplace will go active in February 2007.