Amazon rolling out Netflix-like unlimited video streaming for Prime subscribers?

[Lee Stewart]

Amazon rolling out Netflix-like unlimited video streaming for Prime subscribers?

Rumors of Amazon either purchasing Netflix or launching a competing option have been circling and now one of our readers says he's seeing an unlimited video streaming section to complement the current Amazon VOD options. That's a nice bonus for the $79 / year package that currently adds a few free shipping bonuses and it would be cheaper on a yearly basis than Netflix's Watch Instantly ($95.88.) As seen above and in the gallery, it consists of "unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of 5,000 movies and TV shows" with selections that mirror the Watch Instantly catalog closely. Resolution is apparently limited to a "pretty solid" 480p SD, but there's no word on audio or subtitle options. We'll wait to hear if anyone else is seeing a similar page before assuming a wide rollout, but it certainly appears that there could finally be a viable competitor to the Netflix juggernaut.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/a...-prime-subscr/

[h0mi]

Im very interested in this. Since prime can be shared among 5 amazon accounts, gotta wonder if access to streaming will be similar.

[Lee Stewart]

We'll wait to hear if anyone else is seeing a similar page before assuming a wide rollout, but it certainly appears that there could finally be a viable competitor to the Netflix juggernaut.

How can this be? Netflix is a DVD By Mail company not a streaming company (according to many here) and Amazon doesn't rent DVDs by Mail in the USA.

[GizmoDVD]

So awesome. Even amazon sees that streaming is catching on. As a prime member I hope this happens.

[bruceames]

Good Lord, another streaming thread, and 480p at that. This forum sure went to shit. The only 480p I'll ever be watching is either upscaled DVD (which looks as good as HD cable/streaming anyway), or, the Lakers on Comsuck League pass when the game's not on an HD channel.

All this streaming BS (or shilling, whatever the case may be) is just making me appreciate Blu-ray all the more...

[h0mi]

Good Lord, another streaming thread, and 480p at that. This forum sure went to shit. The only 480p I'll ever be watching is either upscaled DVD (which looks as good as HD cable/streaming anyway), or, the Lakers on Comsuck League pass when the game's not on an HD channel.

All this streaming BS (or shilling, whatever the case may be) is just making me appreciate Blu-ray all the more...

Bear in mind this is rolling out slowly. I've downloaded Amazon unbox HD titles, and I'd expect Hd versions to become available.

My biggest complaint about streaming is the lack of subtitles. I have a hard time hearing dialog at times and find myself rewinding, turning CC on to see what I missed... and sometimes turning it off, or I keep it on. Depends.

[PSound]

Amazon rolling out Netflix-like unlimited video streaming for Prime subscribers?

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/29/a...-prime-subscr/

Cool! Another streaming option!

I want to know what their OTT options will be. Will it work with the PS3 and/or XBox 360? And I am REALLY curious to see what titles they have available.

With the studios talk around wanting Netflix to pay for content, I would guess that Amazon would have to pay quite a bit to secure rights for their user base.

[Sbert]

Cool! Another streaming option!

I want to know what their OTT options will be. Will it work with the PS3 and/or XBox 360? And I am REALLY curious to see what titles they have available.

With the studios talk around wanting Netflix to pay for content, I would guess that Amazon would have to pay quite a bit to secure rights for their user base.

Considering that they are the 3rd largest retailer for blu-rays (outside of BB and walmart), it sounds like they have a decent user base to advertise to. Not sure how many people on prime would use the streaming option. I would. Actually, not sure how many people have Amazon prime to being with. Might have to research this.

[PSound]

Considering that they are the 3rd largest retailer for blu-rays (outside of BB and walmart), it sounds like they have a decent user base to advertise to. Not sure how many people on prime would use the streaming option. I would. Actually, not sure how many people have Amazon prime to being with. Might have to research this.

This is a really interesting scenario for the studios.

The 3rd largest retailer for Blu-rays is now going to be offering unlimited streaming for the equivalent of $6.50 a month.... plus the Prime shipping discount (I already have Prime just for the shipping piece).

How much does that devalue the studios content in the eyes of consumers? And how does that work for Amazon (and the studios) who are also trying to sell VOD rentals and EST?

[GizmoDVD]

Good Lord, another streaming thread, and 480p at that. This forum sure went to shit. The only 480p I'll ever be watching is either upscaled DVD (which looks as good as HD cable/streaming anyway), or, the Lakers on Comsuck League pass when the game's not on an HD channel.

All this streaming BS (or shilling, whatever the case may be) is just making me appreciate Blu-ray all the more...

Some of us like to stream TV/Movies that are not available on blu-ray (or DVD). I'd like 720p, but im sure Amazon will add it later.

[rm082e]

Great for Prime members. More options are great, especially for those who already have Prime. Don't see how this is smackdown though given it's SD/Stereo content.

[bruceames]

Just can't warm to something that's inferior even to DVD. Plus I'm accustomed to the freedom and control of OD. If something is available via streaming that's not available on DVD, then it must suck. No, I'm quite happy with constraining myself to the superior quality and selection of OD.

[Mr. Cinema]

Great for Prime members. More options are great, especially for those who already have Prime. Don't see how this is smackdown though given it's SD/Stereo content.

I'm not surprised. We had a whole thread dedicated to SD Card Kiosks and standard def downloads a couple years ago.

[Jables]

Many movies are available in HD as long as you're not watching on a PC, for rentals only. TV series need to be purchased explicitly in HD. So what I don't get is this: is Amazon going to have tiers of movie streaming? You get one thing if you pay for it, another if you're taking it with Prime?

I would certainly purchase Prime (still on free student version--yah for graduate school!) if they hand this out. Amazon has 5.1 sound on many titles. Selection is not limited to old titles. An all-you-can-stream plan from Amazon would probably bury Netflix's streaming pretty quickly. I wouldn't buy it strictly for the streaming but because it's an incredible value with the free 2-day shipping.

But I'd imagine that they would limit the titles for Amazon Prime members, just like the free monthly rental from CinemaNow for Premiere Silver members only lets you choose from a handful of movies.

[nextoo]

Great for Prime members. More options are great, especially for those who already have Prime. Don't see how this is smackdown though given it's SD/Stereo content.

Blu-ray progress has always been measured against how well it performs versus standard definition. By most measures a BD title is considered a success based on how well it does against standard definition DVD.

I personally would prefer to simply measure the success of BD by tracking gross revenue. Without all of the mindless "percent" victories that are claimed.

That being said the Amazon streaming product when it emerges will be considered a failure by the BD proponents. Why? Because even if it wildly successful and sucks up another 20% of evening internet bandwidth it will not move the VOD digital delivery revenue meter.