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Peer-to-peer file sharing site BitTorrent has announced a studio partnership to make original online video, ramping up a challenge to Netflix and Amazon Prime and trying to further legitimise its image.
The exclusive alliance with Rapid Eye Studios will "identify, produce, and distribute original video" aimed at young adults, the company said on Wednesday.
BitTorrent Originals will produce content exclusive to the platform for one to three months.
BitTorrent chief Eric Klinker said the alliance as a "major milestone for us and an aggressive expansion into the media space".
BitTorrent was founded in 2004 and specialises in software of the same name designed to efficiently share digital files using networks of computers in a peer-to-peer model for free.
The technology quickly became known as a piracy tool, letting people share copyrighted films, music and TV shows.
BitTorrent boasts 170 million users in what it described as a young, creative, and influential group of 14-to-25 year-olds.
"Others in the original content space such as Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hulu have made great progress," said chief content officer Matt Mason.
"But, we are starting out with a big advantage: We have a larger audience than all of those platforms combined."
BitTorrent last year enlisted Rapid Eye on their first collaboration, a series entitled Children of the Machine.
The first season should launch late this year with ad-supported episodes of 60 minutes available for viewing free. A premium version of the series without ads and promising added content will be priced at US$9.95.
BitTorrent users have streamed or downloaded hundreds of millions of "bundles" of digital content from sources including Sony Pictures and Universal as well as musicians including Madonna and Linkin Park, according to Mason.
As part of the partnership, Mason and some of his team from BitTorrent's headquarters in San Francisco will relocate to Los Angeles to work with Rapid Eye on production.
"This move helps BitTorrent establish a beachhead in Hollywood, in terms of the deal and by establishing an office there," Mason said.


Peer-to-peer pirate goes legit with online video

BitTorrent announces the partnership on its official blog.

News

World

Peer-to-peer file sharing site BitTorrent has announced a studio partnership to make original online video, ramping up a challenge to Netflix and Amazon Prime and trying to further legitimise its image.
