IFC, Blockbuster strike deal

NEW YORK, March 5 (UPI) -- IFC Entertainment and Blockbuster have signed a two-year exclusive rental deal aimed at making independent films available to a wider U.S. audience.

The businesses said Wednesday the pact gives Blockbuster the exclusive U.S. rental rights for IFC Entertainment's titles, enabling IFC to reach a broader audience for its films through Blockbuster's stores, by-mail subscription services and digital downloading service, Movielink.com.

The new agreement states Blockbuster will have an exclusive 60-day rental window, including both the physical and digital rental distribution channels, for each movie as it becomes available.

During this period, no title will be available on a retail basis in any format.

After the 60-day period, the IFC titles will be available on a non-exclusive basis both for retail and digital distribution. However, Blockbuster will retain the exclusive physical rental distribution rights for IFC films for three years after each street date, the companies said.