Amazon’s streaming video service is getting ready to offer viewers more choices thanks to a deal struck with CBS corporation. The new deal will include full runs of 18 popular series from the CBS/Paramount catalog.
Include in the deal are shows like The Tudors, Numb3rs, Medium, the Star Trek franchise, Frasier and Cheers. In all, Amazon will add up to 2000 hours of streaming content to its catalog, starting this summer.
“Amazon has created one of the most popular consumer marketplaces in the world, and we are very pleased to make these titles available to their Instant Video and Prime customers,” said Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS Corp. “This new agreement represents another meaningful way for us to realize incremental value for CBS’s content.”
“Our new deal with CBS makes Amazon Prime even better for customers,” said Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. “We’re excited to add thousands of popular CBS programs to our already great selection, all of which stream at no additional cost to Amazon Prime members.”
Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker called the new deal “highly accretive” and “a big positive” for CBS Corp. “Per our calculation, the Amazon deal is likely over $100 million in revenue and could result in more than 6 cents in incremental earnings per share” in 2012, she said in a report.
Comparing the Amazon deal to the Netflix deal, Ryvicker said the new agreement seems to cover a smaller portion of the CBS library, is shorter term – she believes 18 months versus 24 months – and “likely has some sort of per-sub structure in addition to an upfront payment,” while Netflix is likely mostly an up-front payment. “These differences make a lot of sense to us given that Amazon is still in a ”build-out” phase when it comes to its streaming TV offering,” the analyst said. “We believe that in both deals, the economics are very favorable for both CBS and its online video distribution partners.”
Streaking content? LOL!
Does anyone actually check their own spelling anymore? “CBS, Amazon Strike STREAKING Content Deal” ???
It is long past time to stop relying completely and blindly on software spell checking and to start READING the article (and headline) before posting them.
I agree. “Streaking” content does seem like it should be a partnership between Amazon & the Playboy channel instead of CBS. Oh, wait a minute, maybe the actual typo is the “CBS” part. Hmmmm….
Haha… this is what happens when our editor hasn’t had enough coffee first thing in the morning.
So help out and donate — help Hicks keep his Dalek coffee mug filled and exterminate those typos!
As for having more streaming content, I’m both happy and sad. I currently do not own new enough computers to be able to use Netflix streaming or Amazon video and likely now Amazon streaming.
The PPC Macs were left in the dust this year (Firefox went Intel only, wtf?). Alas, my income was also left in the dust a few years ago so I can’t just go out and get a newer Mac, or even a Netflix approved Blu-Ray player just yet.
Wait..you mean they won’t be offering This Ain’t Star Trek as part of the streaking content?!?
Doggone it!
Sorry about the typo and teasing everyone…but hey, hopefully some of you found it amusing. Or maybe not. As Savik says in Star Trek II, “Humor. It is a difficult concept.”
And everyone knows I don’t have a Dalek mug…I have the de-materializing TARDIS one!