LOVEFiLM

And very excited we are about it too – it’s the first time we’ve been able to bring you an original TV series BEFORE it’s been shown anywhere else on UK telly.

From May 24, exclusively on Amazon’s LOVEFiLM, you can stream the entire first season of VIKINGS.

VIKINGS is the epic saga of Ragnar Lothbrook (Travis Fimmel) – farmer, father, husband and fearsome warrior – who finds himself at odds with local chieftain Earl Haraldson (Gabriel Byrne).

Haraldson insists on sending his raiders east, but pickings there are slim. Ragnar longs to take a new ship that can conquer the northern seas, and strike west… Britain won’t know what hit it.

LOVEFiLM Instant members will be able to feast on the entire first season of this Norse action-drama, in full HD, from May 24.

VIKINGS creator/writer Michael Hirst knows a thing or two about stunning historical story-telling – he wrote the Oscar-winning Elizabeth, starring Cate Blanchett, and created the Emmy and Golden Globe nominated series The Tudors.

And, just to repeat, this tale of siege and invasion, brotherhood and honour, blood and fury is exclusive to us.

Chris Bird, our Director of Film Strategy, describes VIKINGS as “an incredibly exciting landmark in our history.” He means our LOVEFiLM history, of course, not Britain’s. Though it was that too. If perhaps a little less positive and entertaining for the average Brit of the late 700s.

“We are serious about securing the best film and TV entertainment for our members and this demonstrates how content creators view LOVEFiLM as an effective broadcasting medium for their high-quality and premium entertainment.”

Thanks Chris – all boxes nicely ticked there.

We’re very proud to bring you this bloody, action-packed, character-driven saga.

The Vikings are coming on May 24 – at our signal, unleash Valhalla!

Darren Bignell, Senior Communications Manager

We’re delighted to launch a brand new streaming app for the PlayStation®3, which includes the Watchlist, better search and a tuned-up recommendations engine.

Since the PS3™ was one of the first devices to run LOVEFiLM Instant, it’s fair to say that a freshen-up was due. And, happily, this is more than just a facelift. The app’s functionality has been rebuilt, so it’s an under-(inter)-face lift too.

I could bang on about SmoothStreaming technology, adaptive bitrates and the like (although I’d need to understand it properly first), but the short version is this: it looks better, it plays better, it (hopefully) makes your PS3 streaming experience better all round.

Improving search and recommendations should make for smarter browsing and help you to more swiftly locate films & TV series. And the new interface means that general movement throughout the catalogue is more glide-y; another plus for your browsing experience.

A new homepage display keeps track of what you’re currently watching and where you got to, so it’s much easier to resume from that same spot. On any LOVEFiLM device or app.

And this new PS3 app still monitors your broadband speed at any given moment, so you’ll always get the best possible quality picture – which is HD (High Definition), when the bandwidth supplied by your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is fast enough.

(Sorry for all the parentheses).

Enjoy the new app – we’ve been working on it for a while, so we’re very pleased it’s finally in your hands…

Darren Bignell, Senior Communications Manager

Ever wanted to choose which TV shows get made? Well, now you can.

We’re very proud to present 14 brand new shows from Amazon Studios – 8 comedies, 6 for kids. They’re exclusively available on LOVEFiLM. They’re completely free. And your feedback is essential.

Watch the shows, call the shots…
You can leave a review or a rating.
You can share or chat about your favourites on Facebook and Twitter.
You can watch as many Amazon Originals as you like. As many times as you like. Absolutely FREE.

And your feedback will help decide which of these individual pilots become full series.

“For the past year, the Amazon Studios team has collaborated with some of the best actors and writers in Hollywood to produce top-quality shows,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon Founder and CEO. “We can’t wait to hear which shows customers will want to see in full series production later this year.”

Comedy giants John Goodman and Jeffrey Tambor are among the many stars gracing these pilots, and creators include The Jim Henson Company, the writers of Zombieland and The Onion News Network, as well as newcomers discovered via Amazon Studios’ open-door development process.

You can watch the pilots and see all of the 14 Original shows here…

COMEDY PILOTS
Alpha House
Four US senators who live together in a rented house in Washington DC – the Alpha House. Starring John Goodman (Argo, Treme), Clark Johnson (The Wire), Matt Malloy (Six Feet Under, Law & Order) and Mark Consuelos (American Horror Story: Asylum), it’s written by Academy Award nominee and Pulitzer-Prize winner Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury, Tanner ’88).

Betas
In the land of Silicon Valley start-ups, four friends attempt to strike it rich with a new mobile social networking app. Ed Begley Jr., Jon Daly, Joe Dinicol and Margo Harshman star in the pilot, while director Michael Lehmann (True Blood, Dexter) produces alongside Alan Freedland and Alan Cohen (King of the Hill, Due Date, American Dad) and Michael London (Sideways, The Informant).

Browsers
A musical comedy set in contemporary Manhattan, Browsers follows four young people in their first jobs at a news website. Bebe Neuwirth (Frasier) leads the cast, Don Scardino (30 Rock) directs, and David Javerbaum – a 12-time Emmy-winner  for The Daily Show – is the show’s writer.

Dark Minions
Written by Big Bang Theory supporting actors Kevin Sussman and John Ross Bowie, Dark Minions is a cartoon about two slackers just trying to get through their day and earn their salary. Except that they work on an intergalactic warship.

Onion News Empire
Set behind the scenes of The Onion News Network, this show demonstrates just how far journalists will go to stay on top and stars Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development), Chris Masterson (Malcolm in the Middle), William Sadler (The Shawshank Redemption, Die Hard 2), Cheyenne Jackson (30 Rock) and Aja Naomi King (Damsels in Distress).

Supanatural
An animated comedy series about two outspoken divas who are humanity’s last line of defence against all things supernatural. When they’re not working at the mall (shopping centre). Supanatural is produced by Jason Micallef (Butter) and Kristen Schaal (The Daily Show).

Those Who Can’t
A comedy about three misfit teachers who are just as immature, if not more so, than the students they teach, Those Who Can’t is written by Andrew Orvedahl, Adam Cayton-Holland and Benjamin Roy (Grawlix), who were discovered through Amazon Studios’ online open door process.

Zombieland
Based on the hit movie of the same name, Zombieland follows four survivors searching for a place to call home and trying to stay one lurching step ahead of the undead. Kirk Ward (The Island), Maiara Walsh (Desperate Housewives), Tyler Ross and Izabela Vidovic star, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (G.I. Joe: Retaliation, The Joe Schmo Show) write, Gavin Polone (Gilmore Girls, Curb Your Enthusiasm) produces.

KIDS’ PILOTS
Annebots
Anne, a young scientist, creates three robots to help with her scientific experiments in her dad’s junkyard. This science-based series from J.J. Johnson (Dino Dan) aims to make science and technology fun and interesting for kids.

Creative Galaxy
Creative Galaxy is an animated interactive art adventure series, designed to inspire creative thinking through crafts, story, music and dance. It’s made by Angela Santomero, creator of Emmy-nominated literacy series Super Why!

Positively Ozitively
Dorothy’s daughter, Dot, heads to Oz everyday with the children of the beloved characters from L. Frank Baum’s classic, The Wizard of Oz. And each time, the yellow brick road leads Dot to a new magical location where she solves problems with her Oz friends.

Sara Solves It
Brother and sister duo Sara and Sam solve absorbing mysteries that spring from the questions young children encounter in their daily lives. It’s created by Emmy Award winner Carol Greenwald (Curious George) and Angela Santomero (Super Why!).

Teeny Tiny Dogs
Dinky, Butterfly, Butch and Polly are Teeny Tiny Dogs, navigating the big wide world despite their teeny, tiny size. This puppet-based show is created by Howard Baker (Rugrats) and produced by Lisa Henson (Sid the Science Kid), daughter of Muppet creator Jim Henson and CEO of The Jim Henson Company.

Tumbleaf
In a whimsical land, a small blue fox called Fig discovers adventure, friendship and love around every bend in the path. Tumbleaf is aimed at pre-school-aged children and is created by Drew Hodges and Bix Pix Entertainment.

Another month, another edition of our little streaming showcase reel – this time around, The LOVEFiLM Instant Show is a Comedy Special.

Un especial de comedia, in fact – a reference that makes more sense (ish) if you’ve seen Will Ferrell in Casa De Mi Padre, his subtitled Spanish-language comedy. It also explains much about this episode.

Big name favourites include Robert Downey Jr in Due Date, the rather lovely Emma Stone in Easy A and yet another formulaic but popular Adam Sandler comedy: Just Go With It.

Also proving remarkably popular is Life As We Know It, starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel.

And it’s well worth pointing out Cockneys vs Zombies – it’s exactly what the title suggests, and stars the recently and dearly departed Richard Briers, a great British institution and a comedy legend: farewell, sir.

Muppets in Space leads off the family section, which also features A Monster in Paris, our massive Kindle Fire/iPad hit Peppa Pig, and perennial favourite, Matilda.

30 Rock and The Office represent America in TV comedy, with the UK end kept up by The Inbetweeners, The IT Crowd and a couple of timeless classics.

That’s 23 titles somehow squeezed into just three and half minutes (some of the clips are very short, that’s how – we’re thinking of letting them breathe a bit in future. But how long is too long for the entire episode? Let us know…)

Click here to watch the episode, or just go direct to the any of the shows mentioned via their links above, or find them all listed together at www.lovefilm.com/instant-show.

And there’s a nice bit of breadth in the next instalment – a mash-up of Action, Drama, Documentary and Thriller genres is coming your way in May…

Darren Bignell, Senior Communications Manager

The LOVEFiLM Instant Show – TV Special is the latest edition of our little streaming showcase reel.

In this episode, we’re featuring telly series old and new, UK and US, long and short – and all of them dangerously addictive.

Longtime favourites 30 Rock, The Office (An American Workplace) and Scrubs join relative newcomer Warehouse 13 in the Best of the US section.

Lost features too, though this is (sadly) moving towards the end of its run on Instant – it’ll expire at the end of April, so if you’re working your way through the Seasons, don’t leave it too late.

Doctor Who and Red Dwarf line up with Spaced, Spooks and The IT Crowd in the Best of British.

And appearing for no other reason than the fact that we love them, the Instant Favourites section indulges our personal top tips – including Buffy, Blackadder, Battlestar Galactica and The Inbetweeners.

Click here to watch the episode, or just go direct to the any of the shows mentioned via their links above.

Oh, and if you’ve been thinking about getting a Kindle Fire, our parent company Amazon have asked us to mention that the new 8.9″ screen version is out now. So there you go, consider it mentioned.

But however you watch, hope you get at least a couple of ideas from our (roughly) monthly teaser reels. Comedy Special coming up in April…

Darren Bignell, Senior Communications Manager

There are many reasons to watch Battlestar Galactica – here are 12…

1. Not really sci-fi – it’s more about war and genocide; heroism and cowardice; government vs the military.
2. Number Six – she’s pictured below right. She’s a baddie. And wears dresses with lots of material missing.



3. Girls like it too - probably because it’s really well-written. Possibly because there are a few hunky guys in it as well.
4. Excellent writing – cf. 3a. No cringeworthy space stuff (cf 1.), this feels authentic and plausible, with a powder-keg plot.
5. Great acting – across the board, from a couple of experienced veterans to a fresh new ensemble we’ve seldom seen before.
6. No-one’s safe – see 5b. Without much star status for protection, the characters are in an even more perilous situation.
7. Edward James Olmos – him from Dexter, The West Wing, Blade Runner. He’s in charge. All gravitas and nobility.
8. Apollo - played by Jamie Bamber (cf. 3b). You wouldn’t know it, but he’s actually English.
9. Father-son angst – between 7 . and 8. The weary Commander and his square-jawed, shoulder-chipped Captain.
10. It’s a bit saucy – especially between 2. and Baltar (James Callis – him from Bridget Jones). But they’re not alone.
11. Mary McDonnell – her from The Closer and Dances With Wolves, she becomes President. Reluctantly.
12. Fabulous effects – everything looks solid, and the dogfight footage slams us right into the heat of the action.

And – ok, one more – it completes its story in a coherent way. Embark on the two-episode mini-series (which we’ve placed at the top of the Season 1 list), and rest assured that this epic saga will unfold, develop, and ultimately resolve at the end of the fourth and final season.

For thumbnail info on the main characters and more reasons to watch, click here…

A closing thought: I love The West Wing. Probably the greatest TV series ever written/performed/created. I’ve watched it four times through, all 7 seasons, from beginning to end.

I’ve just finished my second pass through Battlestar Galactica. It’s possible I might love it more…

Darren Bignell, Senior Communications Manager

Winter has finally arrived in earnest, playing havoc with our roads and pavements, and turning hills into sledge runs and gardens into snowball fight arenas.

But how will your LOVEFiLM service be affected?

LOVEFiLM By Post
DVD Rental by post could be affected by snow and icy conditions. Some delays may occur where severe weather conditions persist, but our fine colleagues at Royal Mail have contingency plans to keep mail moving and minimise disruption wherever possible.

LOVEFiLM Instant
Movies & TV shows will continue to stream – whatever the weather – on your Kindle Fire, iPad, Wii, WiiU, Xbox 360, PS3, laptop and PC.

So if your package includes streaming, you’ll always have thousands of great films & TV series to enjoy.

(If you’d like to add streaming to your subscription, you can easily change your package here).

Either way, the DVD Rental service will return to normal as soon the weather allows, and we’ll keep you posted informed of any developments in the meantime.

Thanks for bearing with us…

Darren Bignell, Senior Communications Manager

Hot on the heels of our Wii application, LOVEFiLM is now also available on the Wii U.

So, with a LOVEFiLM subscription and a broadband internet connection, you can stream our thousands-strong collection of movies & TV shows, instantly, using your Wii U console.

Select the LOVEFiLM logo on your Wii U menu, and you’ll be guided through the installation process. Once LOVEFiLM is installed on your console, hit our logo on your menu screen to launch the application.

(If you’ve deleted the LOVEFiLM logo from your Wii U menu, don’t worry – just launch the Wii U eShop, select LOVEFiLM, and follow the installation process… the LOVEFiLM logo will then reappear on your menu screen.)

Designed specifically for the Wii U, you can navigate our application using the Wii U GamePad AND the Wii Remote. You can also use the GamePad to browse and watch a film or TV episode, even if someone else is using the TV.

Watch out for the Watchlist too. While you’re browsing, just hit the “Add to Watchlist” button – really handy for marking titles you want to watch and building up a list. You’ll find your Watchlist on the LOVEFiLM Home screen once you’ve signed in.

Just like the Wii (and all our Instant devices, in fact), nothing is downloaded – all titles begin streaming as soon as you press the “Play” button (you don’t have to wait for the whole thing to download) and you can jump to any point in the film or episode at any time…

And your Wii U supports HD, which means you can watch our titles in High Definition. A connection speed of at least 2Mbps is required for standard definition, and at least 3Mbps for viewing 720p HD, but the application will automatically stream in the best quality possible and will adjust seamlessly depending on your connection speed.

You can browse for movies & TV shows in several ways – by genre, or by using our hand-crafted collections, or by looking through the unique LOVEFiLM Picks and Most Viewed lists. You can also search our catalogue by title or actor/director.

Enjoy this latest addition to the LOVEFiLM Instant stable, do let us know what you think, and happy Instant Wii U viewing…

Farah Fahmy, Product Manager