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Tag: Lovefilm

  • Amazon Prime UK Gets a £30 Price Hike, Streaming Video

    Amazon Prime UK Gets a £30 Price Hike, Streaming Video

    Amazon is shaking up the way they package Amazon Prime and LOVEFiLM streaming video in UK, and it’s likely going to anger some longtime Amazon Prime users.

    Starting on February 26th, Amazon Prime will cost UK residents £79 a year–up from the £49 price tag users currently enjoy. That’s a huge price increase.

    Or, if you take Amazon’s spin on it, it’s a 35% saving for customers who use both Amazon Prime and LOVEFiLM streaming services in the UK. Yep, UK Prime customers are getting a huge price hike, but they’re also getting LOVEFiLM streaming capabilities in the process.

    Amazon is rebranding LOVEFiLM UK as Amazon Prime Instant Video–just like it’s known in the US. In five days, an Amazon Prime membership in the UK will include free one-day delivery, access to the Kindle Lending Library, and Prime Instant Video.

    But what if you’re an Amazon Prime customer who enjoys free shipping but has no interest in streaming video? Well, tough luck. This is a consolidation and rebranding effort, and you don’t have a choice. Whether you want streaming content or not, your Amazon Prime membership is going to run you £79 a year.

    “Millions of customers in the US have streaming video included as part of their Prime membership and they tell us they love the combination of unlimited delivery, the ability to borrow Kindle books, and convenient access to thousands of the most popular movies, TV shows and exclusive videos,” said Greg Greeley, Vice President of Amazon Prime. “We are delighted to be bringing that same combination of services to the UK, providing members truly unique benefits they can enjoy every day of the year.”

    Now, if you do subscribe to both Amazon Prime and LOVEFiLM in the UK, Amazon isn’t lying–this is a huge price decrease. Consider Amazon Prime currently costs £49 a year, and LOVEFiLM streaming goes for £5.99 a month–dual subscribers are now spending a hell of a lot more than £79 to snag both services. For these people, this really is a great deal.

    But for the Amazon Prime customers who love their shipping privileges but couldn’t care less about streaming video, well, they’ll most likely be a bit perturbed. This is quite a large price hike.

    If you fall into this category of users–you need to act fast. You can lock in the £49 price for the next year if you sign up during the “countdown period.” Once again, you have until February 26th to act.

    Speaking of price hikes, we might be getting one across the pond as well. Last month, during their earnings call, Amazon said that they were at least considering a $20-40 price increase for a yearly subscription to Amazon Prime. The company cited higher fuel and transportation costs, as well as increased usage.

    But unlike Amazon Prime UK’s price hike, that one wouldn’t likely come with any additional benefits–we already have streaming video built-in to our package.

    Image via Amazon UK

  • Dexter, Star Trek Coming to Amazon’s LoveFilm Streaming

    LoveFilm, a streaming service owned by Amazon, today announced that members from the U.K. and Germany can now stream a variety of CBS programming, including some Showtime original series.

    “We’re excited to partner with LoveFilm and their terrific subscription service on an agreement that will bring their U.K. and German subscribers a range of CBS content that audiences around the world are very passionate about,” said Armando Nuñez, CEO of CBS Global Distribution Group. This is another example of the growing licensing opportunities available for CBS’s world class content in a dynamic global marketplace.”

    The new Showtime shows available include Dexter, Nurse Jackie, and Californication. CBS network shows such as The Good Wife and Blue Bloods are also available, as are classic CBS properties such as the original Star Trek series and Star Trek: Voyager. The shows are available to stream starting today.

    Only the first one or two seasons are available for many of the new shows, though the entirety of the original Star Trek series is available. Only the first two seasons of Dexter are available, which isn’t quite enough to catch up to the eighth and final season, which premieres on Showtime this coming Sunday.

  • Amazon’s LoveFilm Gets Yet Another Deal, This Time With ABC

    Amazon’s LoveFilm Gets Yet Another Deal, This Time With ABC

    Amazon has been announcing a slew of streaming content deals for its UK Netflix-like property LoveFilm. This time it’s one with ABC TV.

    Thanks to a partnership with Disney UK, LoveFilm will offer on-demand streaming access to ABC Studios’ library of network and cable series.

    This includes shows like Castle, Lost, Desperate Housewives, Happy Endings, Grey’s Anatomy, Ghost Whisperer and Brothers & Sisters. Shows will be launched as full seasons after their first run on UK pay and/or free TV, Amazon says. Previous seasons of some series will be available to members before the next season airs in the UK.

    “LoveFilm members want top class TV shows, as well as movies, to watch instantly as part of their subscription. Today’s deal with Disney brings them access to some of the best American TV content ever produced. LoveFilm’s unique combination of world class movies and TV shows ensures that LoveFilm is the first and only port of call for those who want subscription entertainment on demand,” says LoveFilm CEO Simon Calver.

    “ABC TV On Demand is home to high quality, compelling US drama, produced by ABC Studios, and launching this service with LoveFilm means we are able to offer viewers more choice and flexibility in how and when they can view full seasons of these gripping shows, through one easy-to-use service,” adds Catherine Powell, senior vice president / general manager, Media Distribution, The Walt Disney Company.

    Other recent LoveFilm streaming deals include Sony, BBC and ITV.

    Now, competition is significantly higher for LoveFilm, as Netflix just entered the UK market last week.

  • Netflix Now Available in the UK, Ireland

    Netflix Now Available in the UK, Ireland

    After announcing the expansion last October, Netflix has finally pulled the trigger and launched its service in the U.K. and Ireland today.

    According to a blog post, the service will work just like the North American service – a once-a-month subscription fee. As would be expected, new users are being offered a one-month free trial, and after that it will cost subscribers £5.99 in the U.K. ($9.24) and €6.99 in Ireland ($8.88).

    @NetflixUK
    Netflix UK & Ireland    For £5.99 or €6.99/month, you can instantly watch unlimited films & TV programmes streaming over the Internet from Netflix #NetflixUKIreland 3 hours ago via web · powered by @socialditto

    With this move, Netflix will attempt to expand the already impressive reach of their streaming service. Last week the company announced that some 20 million subscribers had streamed over 2 billion hours of content in Q4. That’s over 100 hours of content per person during the period.

    Netflix’s biggest rival across the pond will be Lovefilm, the Netflix-like European company that was acquired by Amazon in January of 2011. Amazon just singed a multi-year agreement with Sony as well as deals with the BBC and ITV in order to expand the Lovefilm catalog.

    Netflix’s move to UK and Ireland will come with Facebook integration, or “social driven suggestions.” That partnership is still struggling to get off the ground in the States, due to some decades-old privacy laws. However, the initiative cleared a major hurdle in December as the House passed a bill that would allow the integration to continue.

  • Amazon’s LoveFilm Strikes Streaming Deals With BBC And ITV

    Amazon announced some new TV streaming deals for its LoveFilm product.

    After owning 42% of the company, Amazon acquired the remaining shares of LoveFilm, a European Netflix-like company, last year. Since then, the company has been making deals to expand the service’s streaming catalog.

    Last month, Amazon signed a multi-year agreement with Sony to give members exclusive streaming access to new and forthcoming Sony Pictures TV and film titles. Other recent deals were made with Warner Bros., Entertainment One, StudioCanal, Disney, Momentum and Lionsgate.

    Today, Amazon announced deals with BBC Worldwide and ITV.

    The BBC deal will give members streaming access to content like Doctor Who, Life On Mars, Spooks, Whitechapel, Planet Earth, and plenty of other shows and documentaries.

    LoveFilm CEO Simon Calver says, “We are thrilled to be bringing together great British TV content with Europe’s leading film subscription service. This gives LOVEFiLM an even more powerful, unique offering of instant programming for our members to view across a growing number of platforms, for one low monthly price.”

    Lisa Rousseau, Head of UK and Ireland, Sales & Distribution, BBC Worldwide added, “We’ve had a content partnership with LOVEFiLM for several years now and it’s great to see this evolve digitally. We’re delighted to give LoveFilm’s subscribers the opportunity to instantly watch their favourite British shows, wherever and whenever they wish, alongside a diverse range of great programmes and films.”

    The ITV deal gives LoveFilm members streaming access to titles from the the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster, including Marchlands, Above Suspicion, Prime Suspect, Inspector Morse, Cold Feet, and Secret Diary of a Call Girl.

    “We are delighted to be working with LoveFilm to bring a wide range of ITV’s best loved programmes to their subscribers,” said ITV Director of Pay and Distribution, Martin Goswami. “Partnering with LoveFilm’s Instant service is a great example of how ITV is starting to drive new revenue streams by distributing its content across multiple platforms.”

    LoveFilm’s instant service is currently available to over 175 Internet-enabled devices, including PCs, PS3, iPad, Xbox 360, and numerous Blu-Ray players and connected TVs.

  • Amazon Signs Multi-Year Agreement With Sony To Expand LoveFilm Catalog

    Earlier this year, Amazon acquired LoveFilm, a European Netflix-like company, which beat Netflix to this type of offering in Europe.

    Today, Amazon announced a new deal with Sony Pictures Television to expand the content for LoveFilm.

    “Our latest major content agreement means we’ll be able to exclusively offer our members world-class content from Sony Pictures,” said LoveFilm CEO Simon Calver. “The number of recent high-profile deals we have secured means we are able to keep expanding the service, offering our members high-quality films and TV and the ability to watch as much as they want for one low monthly price.”

    Other recent LoveFilm deals include those with Warner Bros., Entertainment One, StudioCanal, Disney, Momentum and Lionsgate.

    The Sony deal is a multi-year agreement that will give members exclusive streaming access to new and forthcoming Sony Pictures titles during the second subscription pay TV window, as well as catalog titles and TV series, from next June.

    LoveFilm members will get access to titles like The Social Network, Salt, Transformers, The Karate Kid, Wallace & Gromit, and more.

    Forthcoming Sony Pictures releases, catalog titles and TV series will be added to the LoveFilm instant service which is accessible via PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, ipad, and various Internet-connected TVs and Blu-ray players. DVDs are still being offered as well.

  • Netflix Announces UK Streaming Service

    Netflix, despite some recent stumbles, is still the world’s top internet film subscription service. And they have just announced a move that will significantly expand their global reach.

    Today, the company said that they are bringing streaming services to the UK and Ireland. The move will take place sometime in early 2012, and it appears that the model will resemble the one we see in North America – one monthly subscription fee. Details about the service, such as actual pricing and content have yet to be released.

    This marks Netflix’s biggest expansion since they began streaming in Latin America in September of this year. In 2010, Netflix expanded to Canada.

    It is important to note that the UK service will only involve streaming video, not DVDs.

    In jumping across the pond, Netflix will find its biggest rival to be Lovefilm, a service that provides both streaming video and DVDs. Lovefilm is a big deal in the area, and is oftentimes referred to as the “Netflix of Europe.” Lovefilm was bought by Amazon in January of this year, so the Netflix-Amazon battle for streaming supremacy finds another hotspot.

    As I mentioned earlier, Netflix has had a pretty rough couple of months. Recent decisions have impacted both consumer and investor confidence in the company, as they have seen their stock fall quite significantly as of late.

    The pricing changes, splitting DVDs away from streaming and charging more for the former, was the first thing to really upset customers. Netflix, and especially CEO Reed Hastings, took a lot of criticism for the move as well as the way they handled it.

    Things really took a turn for the worse when Hastings announced that Netflix’s DVD service would be splitting off into its own company, with the truly unfortunate name of Qwikster. That was an absolute PR nightmare, and Hastings was forced to abandon the idea and issue a public apology.

    But Netflix has made some strong content acquisitions recently, including Discovery Network shows, DreamWorks animation films, and CW scripted dramas. The events of the past couple of months has no doubt injured the beast, but Netflix continues to offer a service that people want. And although they face competition in Europe, there’s little doubt that this news will be met with excitement in the UK.

  • Amazon Buys European Netflix-Like Company, LoveFilm

    Amazon is acquiring the remaining shares in LoveFilm, which is often referred to around the web as the "Netflix of Europe". Amazon already owned a 42% stake in the company. 

    The move makes tons of sense considering that Amazon already had such a stake, and the fact that Amazon doesn’t already operate a similar business in Europe. Netflix has not expanded globally on a large scale yet either, though it seemingly plans to soon.

    "LOVEFiLM has been innovating on behalf of movie rental customers across Europe for many years and with the advent of the LOVEFiLM player, they are further delighting customers by streaming digital movies for their immediate enjoyment," said Greg Greeley, Amazon’s Vice President of European Retail. "LOVEFiLM and Amazon have enjoyed a strong working relationship since LOVEFiLM acquired Amazon Europe’s DVD rental business in 2008, and we look forward to a productive and innovative future."

    Amazon looking to buy LoveFilm?

    "The deal is a winner for the members who love LOVEFiLM because of its value, choice, convenience and innovation in home entertainment," said LoveFilm CEO Simon Calver. "With Amazon’s unequivocal support we can significantly enhance our members’ experience across Europe."

    Competition could one day get interesting between Netflix and Amazon on the European front. Both companies earned top customer satisfaction scores in ForeSee Results’ E-Retail Satisfaction Index. For now, Amazon will have a pretty big advantage, however. LoveFilm currently operates in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. 

    Financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed, and it is subject to customary closing conditions, but the companies expect it to close in the first quarter. 

    According to a Reuters report back in September, Amazon had offered to buy LoveFilm for about $312 million, but this was never confirmed, and could certainly have changed greatly since then.  

  • Amazon Reportedly Makes Offer to Buy “Netflix of Europe”

    If a report from Reuters is accurate, Amazon has made an offer to buy European video rental service Lovefilm  for about  £200 million ($312 million). Neither company has confirmed the offer. 

    Lovefilm offers both DVD and game rental, as well as online video rental. It also has content like movie news and film reviews. 
     
    Amazon already owns a stake in Lovefilm, and an acquisition would give the company another asset in competing with other video rental services like Netflix. 

    According to Ryan Lawler at NewTeeVee, Lovefilm is already known as the "Netflix of Europe". He writes, "While Amazon is unlikely to begin a DVD-by-mail service in the U.S., acquiring Lovefilm could give it the domain expertise necessary to do so, and it already has the warehouse and shipping infrastructure needed if it chose to launch an assault against Netflix here."

    Amazon looking to buy LoveFilm?

    You can expect YouTube to start making a bigger mark in this area too, at least in the online video realm. YouTube just got a new Global Head of Content and a new Global Head of TV and Film Entertainment (the latter actually coming from Netflix). 

    Meanwhile, Netflix is doing all it can to stay ahead of the curve. It recently released a new iPhone app (with Android on the way). It recently announced a new deal to stream first-run theatrical releases, as well as plans to go international (starting in Canada). 

    Amazon is reportedly working on a subscription service for TV shows and movies.