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Tag: Amazon Prime

  • Amazon Prime to Offer Hundreds of Classic MGM Movies, TV Shows

    Variety is the the spice of life, they say, and thanks to a new deal struck up with MGM Studios, Amazon Prime members will be enjoying that spice soon as the online company will now be providing members with more video content, including hundreds of classic movies and television shows from MGM’s vault.

    “Our customers tell us they love having tons of movies and TV shows to choose from, which is why we are focused on adding even more titles to our already extensive Prime Instant Video library,” said Brad Beale, director of digital video content acquisition for Amazon.

    Some of titles listed by Beale include The Silence of the Lambs, Dances with Wolves, Rain Man, and The Terminator. Typically, when the term “classic” is affixed to television shows or movies, I think black-and-white, Humphrey Bogart- and Rita Hayworth-era types of videos and not movies that were made within my lifetime, but I suppose some may regard these selections as “modern classics.” Or, it’s a sign that I’m getting old.

    The new MGM videos will be available on any Amazon Instant Video-supported device as well as on the Kindle Fire. Last month, Amazon announced that Prime Instant Video would be available for streaming on Xbox for all Xbox Live Gold memberships. Amazon also recently partnered with several studios to offer its “Never Before on DVD” store that offers titles that have never been released on DVD although some of those titles will also be available for streaming via Prime Instant Video.

    Amazon Prime Instant Video boasts over 18,000 movies and television episodes to members and today’s announcement offers yet more proof that Amazon is striving to compete against Netflix in the online video market.

  • Amazon Prime Strikes a Deal with Paramount Pictures

    If you’ve been a Netflix subscriber forever and you’re looking to expand your horizons and try out some other streaming video services, this next deal might make Amazon Prime a provider for you. Amazon.com has just struck a deal with Paramount Pictures that will bring big titles like Mission Impossible, Braveheart, Forrest Gump, Mean Girls, Nacho Libre, Clueless and many more to their catalogue.

    Prime has been attempting to bring their viewers more movies and television shows since they first launched and this new partnership will bring hundreds more. Currently they offer over 17,000 title, but it seems like they get more everyday.

    Brad Beale, director of digital video content acquisition at Amazon comments on their deal with Paramount:

    “We are continuing to invest in building a vast selection for Prime Instant Video and are excited to bring Prime customers some of the most renowned and popular films in cinema history under this new agreement with Paramount,”

    “This deal will bring Prime Instant Video customers hundreds of new movies to enjoy on their Kindle Fire or any device connected to Amazon Instant Video, including titles such as Star Trek, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Top Gun, The Italian Job and The Truman Show, and we will remain committed to adding even more great movies and TV shows to Prime Instant Video in the future.”

    Amazon Prime costs about $80 for the year, and can be viewed on any Amazon compatible devices including Kindle Fire and Playstation 3. The other great thing about is, if you buy anything from Amazon.com, you automatically get free shipping. Depending on how much shopping you do on there, it could pay for itself before the year is over. So there are a couple reasons why it might be worth checking out Amazon Prime.

  • Death for DVD, up with Streaming Video [Infographic]

    Although physical DVD’s are still bringing in a lot of revenue for movie studios, they are slowly joining the ranks of Betamax, VHS, and Laserdisc. We all know it’s coming, in todays online streaming video world, DVD’s are the tools of dinosaurs.

    There’s a lot of factors contributing to fall of DVD, but certainly a couple main reasons are cost and convenience. Who wants to drive all over town searching for the hottest new release when it can be much easier found by switching on your computer, if you ever really turn it off anyway. The average consumer cost for an online movie is $0.51, as compared to $4.72 for a DVD copy. That’s a dramatic cost difference and it doesn’t include the time and fuel used to go track the movie down.

    Walmart recently introduced a program linked to their streaming VUDU service which allows customers to trade physical DVD’s for rights to an online streaming version for about $2 for regular formats, and $5 for high definition. I like the sounds of that. I would love to clear all those old DVD’s out of the closet.

    This next infographic from Onlinedegrees.com fills us in on the state of DVD’s and what’s brewing in the online media world today. Movies are big business, but the days of DVD are numbered. Take a look:

    DeathtoDVD

  • Amazon, Discovery Communications Partner For Video Deal

    Amazon, Discovery Communications Partner For Video Deal

    Some of your favorite Discovery Channel and TLC shows are on their way to Amazon, as the online retailer has inked a deal with Discovery Communications to bring episodes from dozens of shows streaming to Amazon Prime members.

    “Discovery Communications is committed to delighting audiences on all platforms supported by the right business model, and we are pleased to work with Amazon to help satisfy our existing viewers’ curiosity and introduce new audiences to our engaging content,” said Rebecca Glashow, Senior Vice President, Digital Distribution and Partnerships, Discovery Communications. “This library offering will be a wonderful complement to our current array of multi-channel video services and most importantly, a win for viewers.”

    Here’s what you’re going to get from this deal: Prior episodes from shows on the Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, and the Science & Military Channel. This includes hits like Dirty Jobs and Say Yes to the Dress.

    Amazon says that all of this new content is ready to go for Prime subscribers.

    The new content joins Amazon’s collection of now 17,000 streaming videos available in the Prime Instant Video service. Prime member have access to these videos as well as about 120,000 other videos at no additional cost (Amazon Prime costs $79 a year).

    This deal looks a lot like one that Discovery Communications made with Netflix back in September of 2011. Just like the Amazon agreement, Discovery Communications gave up only past seasons of shows from the whole swath of their networks.

  • Amazon Prime Might Not Be As Popular As You Think

    Apparently, Amazon Prime isn’t as popular as many would like to think.

    Current estimates from analysts have put the amount of Amazon Prime subscribers at 10 million or even more, a figure that would make the program a giant success in anyone’s mind. But according to three insiders quoted by Bloomberg, those analysts are way off. They say that as of October 2011, only 3-5 million million have purchased memberships to Amazon Prime.

    If you are unfamiliar with Amazon Prime, it’s a $79 a year service that gives subscribers a boatload of benefits on shipping and content. As an Amazon Prime member, you have free two-day shipping and discounted rates on one-day shipping. As of late late year, if you elect not to expedite your shipping, you get a $1 MP3 credit. Prime members also have free access to Amazon’s streaming library of movies and TV shows.

    Amazon launched its Prime service in 2005.

    But according to these sources, analysts have severely overestimated its popularity. They say that Amazon is looking to hit 10 million subscribers (at the high end) in the next year to year and a half.

    In the last year, Amazon’s shipping costs have ballooned to $4 billion, a big number considering that they only received $1.55 billion in shipping fees. But with Amazon Prime, is has always been about the long-term. The theory is that by providing the service, they will build loyalty and in the end, subscribers will spend way more than your average Amazon user.

    Right now, Amazon it offering a one-moth free trial of Prime. They have also just inked a deal with Viacom to stream more content from MTV, Comedy Central, Spike, and CMT.

    Last month, one analyst said that Amazon’s newest venture, the Kindle Fire tablet, was more profitable than previously thought. Although the costs to manufacture the device exceeds the price by a couple of dollars, he said that Amazon will recoup those losses through e-book sales, app sales, and of course, paid memberships to Amazon Prime.

  • Amazon, Viacom Partner To Increase Amazon Prime Instant Video Selection

    As a result of a digital licensing agreement with Viacom, Amazon announced today that Amazon Prime members will now be able to instantly stream television shows from MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, TV Land, Spike, VH1, BET, CMT and Logo. The addition of these selections bring the total number of Prime Instant Videos to more than 15,000.

    In a statement from Amazon, Brad Beale, director of video content acquisition for Amazon, said, “Over the last year we have received fantastic customer feedback about Prime Instant Video. We are constantly working to improve the service by adding the shows that our customers enjoy the most. This deal with Viacom brings Prime customers and Kindle Fire users thousands of comedies, kids’ shows, reality TV and much more from some of the best cable networks available. We now offer more than 15,000 movies and TV shows in Prime Instant Videos and are working hard to add even more great content.”

    Members of Amazon Prime will be able to enjoy Viacom’s offerings, which include such cultural fascinations like Jersey Shore and SpongeBob SquarePants, on a number of devices, including Amazon’s jewel, the Kindle Fire.

    Amazingly, the statement released from Amazon did not recommend any suitable prophylactics required to safely stream Jersey Shore to your Kindle Fire.

  • Google Prime? Google Jabs Amazon With Upcoming Quick Delivery Service

    With the success of Amazon Prime, it was only a matter of time before Google got into the fast-shipping business.

    According to the Wall Street Journal, Google is on the way to start a service that matches online shopping with fast (one-day) delivery – for a small fee. Basically, Amazon Prime for the rest of the internet retailers.

    And the comparison to Amazon’s Prime service is not only valid because the new initiative so closely resembles the service. According to the people familiar with the matter, the idea was directly motivated by the huge success of Amazon’s service.

    Apparently, Google realizes that people are finding goods by searching on Amazon directly, taking Google out of the equation. Retailers have also noticed this, realizing that they sometimes cannot compete with Amazon’s merchandise availability and quick shipping times.

    The sources say that Macy’s, Gap, and OfficeMax are some of the first retailers to be interested in partnering up with Google.

    It looks like the service may utilize Google Shopper:

    Under the initiative, Google plans to meld an existing product-search feature that directs shoppers to retail websites with a new quick-shipping service that the Internet giant will oversee. The quick-shipping service will be based on a Google behind-the-scenes system that allows shoppers to figure out whether stores have a product in stock and that allows them to find out whether they can get that product shipped to them within a day.

    When shoppers place an order on those retailers’ websites, Google’s system could kick in to offer them an option for same-day or possibly next-day delivery, said a person familiar with the matter.

    So Google won’t actually be selling anything, or shipping anything for that matter. Possible delivery partnerships include UPS and other local companies. Google reportedly plans to test the initiative in San Francisco and work its way up to a full launch in 2012.

    Do you think Amazon should be worried? Let us know what you think in the comments.

  • Netflix, Amazon Announce New Deals with Disney-ABC

    Netflix has extended its partnership with Disney-ABC, and Amazon announced a new partnership with the group.

    “Disney and ABC have been and continue to be an innovative and supportive partner for Netflix,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. “The diverse but always excellent programming from the different channels and networks are favorites of our members and we are thrilled to broaden the scope and extend the terms or our relationship.”

    New content to come out of the deal for Netflix includes:

    • ABC Family’s “Switched at Birth”
    • Prior season episodes of Disney Channel’s animated series “Kick Buttowski”
    • All episodes of the ABC thriller “Alias”

    The following will continue on Netflix as part of the extended deal:

    • Prior season episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Desperate Housewives,” and “Private Practice”
    • All episodes of “Lost,” “Brothers & Sisters,” and “Ugly Betty”
    • Prior season episodes of “Army Wives”
    • “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” “Melissa & Joey,” and “Make It or Break It”
    • Various content from the Disney Channel including: “Phineas and Ferb,” ” Good Luck Charlie,” “The Suite Life on Deck,” and “Hannah Montana”

    Amazon lists the following as new offerings for Prime members:

    • Prior seasons of “Grey’s Anatomy”
    • All episodes of “Lost”
    • Prior seasons of “Phineas & Ferb”
    • Prior seasons of ABC Family’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” including the most recently aired episodes from summer 2011
    • Prior seasons of Marvel’s animated shows “Spider-Man,” “X-Men Evolution,” “Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers” and “Iron Man: Extremis”
    • All episodes of ABC Family’s “Greek”
    • All episodes of “Felicity” from ABC Studios

    “We are excited to add some of the very best content available from Disney-ABC to Prime instant video,” said Brad Beale, director of video content acquisition for Amazon. “This includes every episode of past seasons from the ABC hits Lost and Grey’s Anatomy, fan favorites like Felicity and Greek, the popular Disney Channel show Phineas & Ferb and great animated series from Marvel. We’re working hard to add even more selection for Kindle Fire customers and Prime members leading up to the holidays, and expect to have nearly 13,000 titles available in Prime instant video by early next year.”

    Financial terms of either deal were not disclosed.

  • Amazon Launches New Netflix Competitor

    Amazon has announced the launch of an unlimited, commercial-free instant streaming movie and TV show service for Amazon Prime members. The service will give subscribers access to 5,000 movies and shows. 

    Prime members will not be charged any extra. The price will remain $79 per year for the membership. The service also provides members with "all-you-can-eat" free 2-day shipping, which the company says has already attracted millions.

    "Millions of Amazon Prime members already enjoy the convenience of free Two-Day Shipping," said Amazon Prime VP Robbie Schwietzer. "Adding unlimited instant access to thousands of movies and TV shows at no additional cost is a great way to give members even more value for their $79 annual Amazon Prime membership."

    Amazon Video Streaming Service for Prime Members

    "In addition to now offering unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of 5,000 movies and TV shows to Amazon Prime members, we continue to offer all customers more than 90,000 movies and TV shows through Amazon Instant Video," noted Cameron Janes, director of Amazon Instant Video. "With Amazon Instant Video customers can rent or purchase hit movies, such as ‘The Social Network’ as well as purchase the latest TV shows available the day-after they broadcast."

    Obviously the service will go head to head with Netflix, with each providing different benefits to users. Amazon has the additional services described above, and Netflix charges by the month, and offers various plans that include DVD mailings for titles that aren’t included in the streaming service.