/ Source: The Associated Press
THE DEAL: Netflix has locked up the right to show "The Artist" and other movies from The Weinstein Co. on its Internet video service before the films are released to the leading pay-TV channels.
THE SIGNIFICANCE: It helps Netflix Inc. compete with premium cable channels, such as HBO and Showtime, and Internet video services provided by Amazon.com Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
THE DETAILS: The multiyear deal gives Netflix some films within a year of their release in movie theaters. Besides "The Artist," the deal covers foreign-language movies, documentaries and other films in the Weinstein vault. Financial terms weren't disclosed.