HBO strikes movie deal with Twilight producer Summit

US cable network HBO has poached a pay TV deal with Twilight producer Summit Entertainment from rival Showtime.

The Time Warner-owned premium cable network has struck a four year output deal with Summit Entertainment that will begin in January 2013.

This comes as HBO sees competition from online rivals including Netflix increasing.

Summit’s current deal with CBS-owned Showtime, which includes all five Twilight movies, ends at the end of 2012.

Movies that are expected to appear on HBO will include the reboot of Highlander, Ender’s Game, which is based on the Orson Scott Card novel, and Pompeii.

The deal was struck by Summit chief executive and co-chairman Rob Friedman and Bruce Grivetti, president, film programming, HBO.