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Amazon-Owned Epix to Be Rebranded as MGM+ in January

Amazon-owned cable and streaming network Epix will have a new name beginning in January: MGM+. 

The rebranding will debut Jan. 15, 2023, while the network continues with its current distribution channels and categories of content, Epix said Wednesday (Sept. 28) in a press release. 

“MGM is one of the most iconic and beloved brands from the golden age of entertainment,” Michael Wright, head of MGM+, said in the release. “This rebrand is a promise to existing and new viewers that MGM+ is the place to find television that reflects and celebrates the legacy of the iconic MGM brand — cinematic programming with sophisticated storytelling that entertains, delights, surprises and transports.” 

The network will continue to be available in the United States on Amazon’s Prime Video as well as cable, telco, satellite and digital distribution channels, according to the release. The company said it will continue to deliver premium content and both new and classic film titles from MGM and other major Hollywood studios.

Epix’s rebrand comes six months after Amazon closed its acquisition of movie and TV studio MGM, which owns Epix. The acquisition gave Amazon access to a library of 4,000 movies — including the James Bond films — and 17,000 TV episodes, positioning it to better compete with rivals like Netflix and Disney+. 

Amazon closed on its $6.5 billion acquisition of MGM in March, with the company becoming part of Amazon’s Prime Video and Studios unit.

Learn more: Amazon Closes $6.5B MGM Acquistion 

When the deal to acquire MGM was announced in May 2021, Mike Hopkins, senior vice president of Prime Video and Amazon Studios, said “the real financial value behind this deal is the treasure trove” of MGM’s films. 

As PYMNTS reported at the time, the film-streaming industry is increasingly competitive, with several services gaining ground on longtime industry leader Netflix.

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