Epix to be carried on Charter cable system

(AP) — Epix, the pay TV channel owned by three Hollywood studios, said Thursday it would be offered to cable customers of Charter Communications Inc. beginning in May.

Following deals to be carried by Verizon Communications Inc.'s FiOS, Mediacom Communications Corp., and Cox Communications Inc., Epix will reach 16 million homes in the next three months.

Charter is the fourth-largest cable operator in the country.

Epix was formed as a joint venture by Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. and Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. after the three studios couldn't agree to keep sending their movies to Showtime, the pay TV service owned by CBS Corp.

The channel debuted in October on Verizon and cost $9.99 a month to subscribers. The channel's movies are also available to subscribers at EpixHD.com.