Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) almost made a deal with Starz, but the TV programming channel companies wanted Netflix consumers to have to pay more for the additional content. Starz reportedly offered Netflix $300 million per year to renew their agreement, but they wanted Netflix to have tiered pricing. Tiered pricing would have required Netflix subscribers that wanted movies and TV shows to pay more than the $8 per month. Apparently this was the reason why the talks between Starz and Netflix ended. Starz believes that this would have protected their relationship with video programming distributors. DirecTV and Time Warner Cable is worried that customers will “cut the cord” if there is enough fresh content available on the Internet for a lower price.

Starz, LLC is launching a new TV series called Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. Along with launching the TV series, the TV channel is also launching a Facebook game and an iPad application. The Sparacus Facebook game is one of the first social media games that is based on a television show. In the Facebook game, you manage a gladiator school as the role of Lanista. You have to assemble your own team of gladiators and battle them in Roman arenas. The full launch is expected to happen on January 21st.

THe New York Times did an interview with several movie content executives about Netflix. One of the reasons why Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) was able to grow fast is because they bought content on-the-cheap. Next year it will be different because their contract for movie deals will be expiring.

Graphic.ly is a CDN company that specializes in comics. The company has raised $1.2 million in their first round of funding. DFJ Mercury is the early-stage lead VC firm behind the funding. Other investors include Starz Media, GC&H Investments, Northstar Equity Partners, Dave McClure, Paige Craig, and Chris Sacca.

Graphic.ly plans to use the funding for technology development, marketing, and future partnerships. One of Graphic.ly’s first projects after the funding is to develop an iPhone application for Marvel Comics. Graphic.ly launched out of TechStars, a startup incubation firm. Graphic.ly was founded by Kevin Mann and Thanavanth Jaroenvanit and is run by CEO Micah Baldwin. Baldwin is the former VP of business development at Lijit Networks.