Facebook streaming trial expands with 'Inception' and 'Harry Potter'

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After streaming The Dark Knight via Facebook on March 8, Warner Bros. Pictures announced on March 27 that it would expand the arrangement with the social network and is now streaming five more films for US users.

Inception, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Yogi Bear, and Life as We Know It are now available via each films's official Warner Bros.' Facebook page.

The Facebook page for the sci-fi thriller Inception - http://www.facebook.com/inception - by Christopher Nolan and starring Leonardo DiCaprio is one the site's most active, with more than 6.1 million fans. Harry Potter film sites are also popular.

The film choices cover an array of genres, from family fare with Yogi Bear to romantic comedy with Life As We Know It, which stars Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel.

The rental fee is $3 for the Potter pictures. For Inception, Yogi Bear and Life - considered new releases - the fee is $4. The films are available to view for 48 hours after clicking the "watch now" icon and can be paid for with Facebook credits (40 credits = $4, 30 credits = $3).

This first venture into Facebook as a means for film distribution offers an alternative to Netflix, the leading film and television streaming web service, and taps into the social network's vast user base. At this time, the offering is only available in the US.

"We're pleased to expand our test with a variety of titles that appeal to a broad audience," stated Thomas Gewecke, president of Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, in the press release. While a specific number of viewers for The Dark Knight has not been revealed, the foray into the medium appears to have been successful.

Find the films on Facebook:

Inception: http://www.facebook.com/inception
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: http://www.facebook.com/harrypottermovie
Yogi Bear: http://www.facebook.com/yogibear
Life As We Know It: http://www.facebook.com/lifeasweknowit

RC