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Posted: Tue., May 27, 2008, 8:16am PT

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BSkyB, Pathe agree 'Cottage' pact

Pay TV, VOD, DVD releases in sync

By STEVE CLARKE

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U.K. comedy horror movie “The Cottage,” distributed by Pathe U.K., will be released simultaneously on DVD and through satcaster BSkyB’s pay service Sky Box Office and online VOD service Sky Player.

Sky Movies director Ian Lewis said: “There have been a number of positive steps recently within the U.K. film industry toward compressing the current windows, and this deal with Pathe is another move in the right direction.”

Pathe U.K. managing director Cameron McCracken added: “As the on-demand market evolves, we have to evolve, too.

“Testing the waters with a day-and-date DVD/PPV/VOD release for a mainstream title like ‘The Cottage’ will hopefully enable us to draw the conclusion that the narrowing of windows can enhance rather than undermine commercial returns.”

Earlier this year, BSkyB inked a day-and-date deal with Artificial Eye to release Fatih Akin’s “Edge of Heaven” simultaneously in theaters, on pay TV and via video-on-demand (Daily Variety, Jan. 11).