Amazon to launch streaming service, free for Prime members

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 30 Jan 2011 1:30 User comments (8)

Engadget has posted screenshots this weekend of Amazon's upcoming subscription streaming service, one that should directly rival Netflix.

The service will offer free, unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows to Amazon Prime members.

Reads a now removed page:

"Your Amazon Prime membership now includes unlimited, commerical-free instant streaming of 5,000 movies and TV shows at no additional cost."

Amazon Prime is $79-a-year (and free for anyone with a .edu email) and offers users free 2-day shipping on all items, and discounts on even faster shipping options.

At that price, Prime (before any other benefits) is still cheaper per year than Netflix's streaming-only option, which is $8 per month.

Additionally, Amazon already offers rentals and digital movie purchases, giving it more angles of attack in the online video market.

Tags: streaming Amazon Netflix Prime

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130.1.2011 14:34

lissenup2

Inactive

Sweet. I'm a Prime member because of finishing school and my girlfriend will be one too since she just started nursing school at 32 years old.

Prime is totally free for those in school so GO GET IT. Did all my Xmas shopping via Amazon.

230.1.2011 15:26

ffocus06

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I still think netflix is going to win this one. Can you get Amazon videos on your 360, PS3, or Wii? Can you get it through blu-ray players or TVs? Can you get it on your phone? I can use netflix on all of those things. It's going to be hard to incorporate all of those things for use with Amazon when Netflix already has it.

Also I thought I saw a thing on the news the other day where they were talking about going to streaming only, which would save them 300 million dollars a year on shipping costs. It'd be nice to get all the movies they have.

330.1.2011 16:00

lissenup2

Inactive

Originally posted by ffocus06:
I still think netflix is going to win this one. Can you get Amazon videos on your 360, PS3, or Wii? Can you get it through blu-ray players or TVs? Can you get it on your phone? I can use netflix on all of those things. It's going to be hard to incorporate all of those things for use with Amazon when Netflix already has it.

Also I thought I saw a thing on the news the other day where they were talking about going to streaming only, which would save them 300 million dollars a year on shipping costs. It'd be nice to get all the movies they have.

I can't dispute............Netflix has the market and truly rocks. It's just pretty cool that Amazon will allow FREE use of this for us Prime members that are taking classes.

430.1.2011 20:00

Aarbyy

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Junior Member

Oh yes, Amazon, the good folks (among others) who went after Wikileaks.

531.1.2011 00:39

gamerguy51

Unverified new user

Originally posted by ffocus06:
I still think netflix is going to win this one. Can you get Amazon videos on your 360, PS3, or Wii? Can you get it through blu-ray players or TVs? Can you get it on your phone? I can use netflix on all of those things. It's going to be hard to incorporate all of those things for use with Amazon when Netflix already has it.

Also I thought I saw a thing on the news the other day where they were talking about going to streaming only, which would save them 300 million dollars a year on shipping costs. It'd be nice to get all the movies they have.

you sure can watch amazon on your console, with PlayOn. ;)

631.1.2011 03:23

TBandit

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WOW wish i knew about students getting prime free before coulda done all the shoopping online

731.1.2011 06:22

KillerBug

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Originally posted by ffocus06:
I still think netflix is going to win this one. Can you get Amazon videos on your 360, PS3, or Wii? Can you get it through blu-ray players or TVs? Can you get it on your phone? I can use netflix on all of those things. It's going to be hard to incorporate all of those things for use with Amazon when Netflix already has it.

Also I thought I saw a thing on the news the other day where they were talking about going to streaming only, which would save them 300 million dollars a year on shipping costs. It'd be nice to get all the movies they have.

I could agree with almost everything there, except the phone...those bastards refuse to release an Android app.

As for the $300,000,000 savings...don't forget that people pay for those services, and they pay more than they would for streaming only. Realistically, it would be a loss, at least at current shipping prices.

83.2.2011 08:34

cyprusrom

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Originally posted by KillerBug:

Originally posted by ffocus06:
I still think netflix is going to win this one. Can you get Amazon videos on your 360, PS3, or Wii? Can you get it through blu-ray players or TVs? Can you get it on your phone? I can use netflix on all of those things. It's going to be hard to incorporate all of those things for use with Amazon when Netflix already has it.

Also I thought I saw a thing on the news the other day where they were talking about going to streaming only, which would save them 300 million dollars a year on shipping costs. It'd be nice to get all the movies they have.
I could agree with almost everything there, except the phone...those bastards refuse to release an Android app.

As for the $300,000,000 savings...don't forget that people pay for those services, and they pay more than they would for streaming only. Realistically, it would be a loss, at least at current shipping prices.

If you factor in just the cost of one stamp, shipping might seem cheap...but if you add the cost of manufacturing the packaging, the manpower to pack/sort/ship/receive, cost of discs and replacements needed because damage/loss...then I can see how that would get rather costly...

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Amazon to launch streaming service, free for Prime members

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