Rich Fiscus
31 Oct 2011 11:39
Disney's ABC Television Group is increasing their presence in the US subscription streaming market via new deals with Netflix and Amazon.
The Netflix deal extends an existing agreement which gives Watch Instantly subscribers access to completed TV series like Lost and previous seasons of ongoing series like Desparate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy. Amazon's deal will match that for Amazon Prime customers.
Where the Netflix deal distinguishes itself is adding access to ABC TV shows just 30 days after they first air.
The Amazon deal, in particular, seems to indicate serious competition for Netflix streaming may be on the horizon. Amazon is one of several companies looking to take advantage of Netflix's weakened position after their recent price increase.
Amazon still has a lot of catching up to do if they want to be a serious competitor for Netflix. In particular, Netflix has a significant lead in streaming clients for smart TVs, Blu-ray players, and game consoles.
Matching Netflix content deals is certainly a step in the right direction, but they will need to make their service more convenient for consumers if they want to take the next step.