LOS ANGELES (AP):

Sony Pictures Entertainment said starting Wednesday, it is expanding the digital availability of The Interview to top cable, satellite and telecoms services, and increasing through the weekend.

Starting Thursday, the movie will also be available on PlayStation Network.

In a statement, Sony Pictures chairman and CEO Michael Lynton thanked the new partners and specified that the studio had always sought the widest possible distribution for the R-rated comedy about an assassination attempt on the leader of North Korea.

The film will also expand to 580 independent theatres by January 2.

Major theatre chains cancelled showings of the movie amid threats.

New platforms include Time Warner Cable, Comcast and DirecTV.