Madonna's 'Sticky and Sweet' spesh will inaugurate Epix.
Epix, the pay TV channel backed by Lionsgate, MGM and Paramount, has confirmed Oct. 30 as its launch date.
The cabler’s premiere weekend programming will include the pay TV bow of “Iron Man,” the world preem of the two-hour Madonna concert spesh “Sticky and Sweet: Live From Buenos Aires” and the comedy spec “Eddie Izzard: Live From Wembley.”
Among the other pics on the slate for the opening weekend: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Madea Goes to Jail,” “Pink Panther 2,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” “Cloverfield” and “The Duchess.”
Epix plans to make its entire lineup available on demand and online. Channel has 15,000 movies at its disposal, including movies released by Par and its affiliates after Jan. 1, 2008, and MGM, UA and Lionsgate titles released after Jan. 1 of this year.
Madonna’s tour has set records for a solo artist, generating nearly $500 million in gate revenues. Justin Timberlake, Kanye West and Britney Spears performed live via satellite with the headliner.
To date, Epix has announced only one carriage agreement, with Verizon’s FiOS TV service, reaching about 2.5 million potential subscribers. Epix execs said they expect more carriage deals in place by launch.
Contact Jon Weisman at
jon.weisman@variety.com