When Miramax signed a streaming-content licensing deal with Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) last month, it apparently wasn't exclusive. The prolific music studio inked a streaming deal with Netflix rival Hulu this week as well.

The deals aren't the same, as the Miramax content will rotate through Hulu in small chunks, but it's good enough for bragging rights.

This isn't the only way that the competition is closing in on Netflix. DISH Network's (Nasdaq: DISH) Blockbuster -- yes, Blockbuster -- is tweaking its pricing to more effectively compete against Netflix and Coinstar's (Nasdaq: CSTR) Redbox.

Instead of $4.99 for a three-night rental, Blockbuster will offer new releases for $2.99 for the first night and $0.99 a night after that. Older releases will go for $1.99 or less for the initial rental. Better deals on shorter turnaround times should help increase store traffic, but this will probably be a bigger threat to cable providers offering video on demand than it will to Coinstar or Redbox.

Briefly in the news
And now let's take a quick look at some of the other stories that shaped our week.

  • FuelCell Energy (Nasdaq: FCEL) secured a new order for at least $129 million -- or more than the alternative-energy company booked as revenue for all of last year.
  • Valvoline maker Ashland (NYSE: ASH) is paying $3.2 billion for privately held International Specialty Products. That should help its growth engine move faster.
  • A pair of analysts downgraded shares of apparel retailer Zumiez (Nasdaq: ZUMZ), despite posting solid sales in May. Remember when bullishness was fashionable?
  • Tesla Motors (Nasdaq: TSLA) completed a secondary offering of 5.3 million shares, priced at $28.76 apiece. Making electric cars isn't cheap, you know.

Until next week, I remain,

Rick Munarriz

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