Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has signed an electronic sell-through deal with two DVD rental companies in Benelux: Videoland and Movie MAX.

The deal covers new and library titles from Sony Pictures available for digital download from the companies' online sites in Belgium, Luxemburg and The Netherlands.

The service went live today and includes films such as Spider-Man 3, Ghost Rider, Sense and Sensibility and Sleepless in Seattle.

Co Mast, CEO lf Videoland and Movie MAX, said: 'We are very pleased to be one of the first to have this deal with Sony Pictures Television International. For us it was very important that www.videoland.nl and www.moviemax.eu have day-and-date releases from the start, so we can beat online illegality as well as illegal DVD sales. We are now ahead of a new era for our future business. We know that this will be a great opportunity for our 450 franchise stores and head office to enter the future.'

The deal was negotiated by Andreas Brosjo of SPTI, Pieter Swaelens of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Co Mast of Movie MAX and Videoland.

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