Despite the growth of independent services like Netflix, movie studios are still working to develop their own content distribution channels. Epix, a joint venture between Paramount, MGM, and Lionsgate, has just announced that it will be adding The Avengers and The Hunger Games — two of the biggest films of 2012 — to its catalog. Launched in 2009, Epix operates both as a premium TV channel and a cross-platform service, with apps on iOS, Android, the Xbox 360, and set-top boxes like the Roku player. It's also rumored to be in talks with Apple over the Apple TV, and a deal with Epix provides a solid amount of the newer content on Netflix.

Due to its studio backing, Epix has a large stable of films already, but its rights to The Avengers are actually the result of some legal wrangling between Paramount and Disney: as part of the Marvel licensing deal, Paramount's Epix got the pay TV rights to the film. Two films aren't going to tip any balances, but they're part of an ongoing move by studios into the world of apps and online streaming.