LoveFilm gets Vikings series ahead of TV

Amazon’s on-demand service LoveFilm has bought Vikings in a deal that means the hit drama series will be available on its streaming service ahead of linear TV.

The series is produced and distributed by MGM and aired on History in the US as the cable net continues to push into scripted programming.

LoveFilm has exclusive streaming rights in the UK and Germany. It will be available from later this month.

Chris Bird, director, film strategy at LoveFilm, said that picking up the series before TV was landmark moment for his company. “We are serious about securing the best film and TV entertainment for our members and this demonstrates how content creators view LoveFilm as an effective broadcasting medium for their high-quality and premium entertainment.”

The show did not deliver the incredible numbers of Hatfields and McCoys and The Bible for History, but, scheduled right after The Bible in a Sunday night slot generated very strong numbers for the cable network. A second series has been greenlit and will shoot this summer.