Amazon Plans Film and TV Web Service

  • By: HomeTheaterReview.com,

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter Print this article

amazon_logo.gif Bloomberg.com reports that Amazon.com has approached several media companies in hopes to launch an online video subscription service in order to compete with online rental service, Netflix.

The service would consist of older films and television shows and would be made available for a monthly fee. Reportedly, Amazon has approached Time Warner, Viacom Inc. owner of MTV, and General Electric, which is the parent company of NBC Universal.

The goal of the new service would be to combat Amazon's rivals - Netflix, Hulu, and Apple. Amazon plans to structure the deals with the media companies similarly to Netflix, which pays for the right to stream media over the Internet. Amazon would want to make the service available through web browsers and Internet-connected television sets, Blu-ray players, and the Xbox 360 console.

This subscription based service would be a departure from Amazon's current video-on-demand service which has failed to successfully compete with rental service giant Netflix. This current service rents and sells movies and television shows through Amazon.com, and through Roku, TiVo, and Sony devices.

While Amazon has an established brand name and user base that could compete in the online streaming world, this service may be too limited and too late to gain any real traction.

Related Reviews and Content
To learn more about rental services please read our article, An Insiders Guide To DVD/Blu-ray Rental Services Like Netflix, Blockbuster & Redbox by Andrew Robinson. Also read our TiVo HD DVR review by Adrienne Maxwell to learn more about one of the products that runs Amazon's current video-on-demand service.

  • Comment on this article

Post a Comment

You are encouraged to post your comments using Facebook on HomeTheaterReview.com. Simply sign in to your Facebook account below and post away.

Featured Audio-Video News

24-Tech: Ideas On How To Get Your Home Theater Working Like It's Installed At CTU

24-Tech: Ideas On How To Get Your Home Theater Working Like It's Installed At CTU -

24 was a great show that had some ridiculously impressive technology. So impressive, it defied the reality of the actual technology used. However, the ideas are great. Jerry Del Colliano thinks about how those ideas could be translated to home theaters.

Latest Streaming, Apps, and Downloads News

Verizon Teams Up with Redbox to Offer Streaming Solution -

Verizon has teamed up with Coinstar's Redbox to create a new streaming option to compete with the like of Netflix. But the questions remain, how will this service be different and is it too late to the game?

DVDO Unveils the DVDO AIR WirelessHD Solution -

DVDO has announced the availability of the DVDO Air Wireless HD system, which claims to wirelessly stream HD video and uncompressed audio as well as a few other notable features.

UltraViolet Content Begins to Gather Support -

UltraViolet has been making headway into the home media marketplace since the service's launch. According to supporters at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, the service could become a contender.

Rovio and Samsung Partner to Bring Angry Birds to TVs -

Samsung has put a lot of effort and energy into building up the company's app platform for the Samsung televisions. Now that effort has brought the wildly popular game, Angry Birds, to the Samsung platform.

Meridian Announces Sooloos Core Control App -

Meridian Audio has introduced something that their iPad-owning customers will be very happy with: a Sooloos control app for the iPad. The app has a rather impressive array of features that users will be very happy with.

Sensio Creates 3D Video on Demand Service: 3DGO! -

One of the obstacles for 3D to overcome to grow as a technology is the process of providing content. Sensio has begun a process to help combat this problem by creating a 3D Video on Demand service.

Netgear Brings CinemaNow to NeoTV Streaming Player -

Netgear recently added access to a lot of content by adding CinemaNow capabilities to the company's NeoTV streaming media player, as well as several other applications and channels of content.

CES to Feature First-Ever Applications Developer University -

The Consumers Electronic Association has decided to completely embrace the new world of home theater apps by hosting the first-ever App Developer University at the 2012 Consumer Electronics show.

Barnes & Noble Nook Now Runs Netflix and More -

Barnes & Noble have updated their NOOK Color tablet to allow the device to not only access books and magazines but also stream movies through services like Flixster and Netflix.

Logitech Revue Gets Android 3.1 Update -

Logitech has updated the software of the Logitech Revue with Google TV system with Android 3.1. The new update allows for more features and a system that operates faster and smoother.