29 July 2011 | Author: L. Sutherland Head of Media Content
Online retail king Amazon could be set to storm the video streams, with news it has partnered up with NBCUniversal.
Just last week, we heard the retailer had made a similar deal with CBS, where the broadcaster agreed to give Amazon the ability to stream 2,000 episodes of older TV shows. Now, it will also have access to part of the Universal Pictures' film library, indicating that the retailer is making some serious moves into the streaming sphere.
These bold moves are causing much speculation, and it is widely believed Amazon is stocking up content for the tablet computer it currently has in development. Whether the retail giant can replicate the success of the Kindle is the million dollar question, but it certainly seems as though it's taking a leaf out of Apple's book when it comes to offering rich content.
The New York Times reports that in both the CBS and NBC deals, the content will be available to the public through Amazon Prime, a paid for yearly membership service that currently offers benefits such as free two-day shipping. The soon-to-be expanding streaming service is available to Amazon Prime members at no extra cost.
The news is sure to do much to exacerbate the growing rivalry between Amazon and Netflix, one of the current leaders of the streaming pack. However, with about 25 million subscribers already, Netflix is unlikely to go quietly - although a scheduled price increase could test loyalty in coming months.
Netflix doesn't seem to be the only competitor in for a tough ride, as, according to PaidContent, Amazon has also acquired TV app developer PushButton. This, combined with the fact that Amazon welcomed Lovefilm into the fold in January, suggests the retailer has some big plans up its sleeve.
Amazon and NBC: video streaming success?
Online retail king Amazon could be set to storm the video streams, with news it has partnered up with NBCUniversal.Just last week, we heard the retailer had made a similar deal with CBS, where the broadcaster agreed to give Amazon the ability to stream 2,000 episodes of older TV shows. Now, it will also have access to part of the Universal Pictures' film library, indicating that the retailer is making some serious moves into the streaming sphere.
These bold moves are causing much speculation, and it is widely believed Amazon is stocking up content for the tablet computer it currently has in development. Whether the retail giant can replicate the success of the Kindle is the million dollar question, but it certainly seems as though it's taking a leaf out of Apple's book when it comes to offering rich content.
The New York Times reports that in both the CBS and NBC deals, the content will be available to the public through Amazon Prime, a paid for yearly membership service that currently offers benefits such as free two-day shipping. The soon-to-be expanding streaming service is available to Amazon Prime members at no extra cost.
The news is sure to do much to exacerbate the growing rivalry between Amazon and Netflix, one of the current leaders of the streaming pack. However, with about 25 million subscribers already, Netflix is unlikely to go quietly - although a scheduled price increase could test loyalty in coming months.
Netflix doesn't seem to be the only competitor in for a tough ride, as, according to PaidContent, Amazon has also acquired TV app developer PushButton. This, combined with the fact that Amazon welcomed Lovefilm into the fold in January, suggests the retailer has some big plans up its sleeve.
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