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This is basically a marketing move: HBO gets to keep their new programs so customers have to have HBO to see GOT and so forth (HBO gives up its back catalog but

This is basically a marketing move: HBO gets to keep their new programs so customers have to have HBO to see GOT and so forth (HBO gives up its back catalog but I doubt their old shows bring in new subscribers so that isn't a huge loss), Amazon justifies their Amazon Prime price increase and also gets people to buy Fire TV (Amazon Prime is probably not coming to any other device like Chromecast). I would say it's a huge win for Amazon and a so-so win for HBO, so likely Amazon is paying a hefty price to HBO for this ad campaign.

whichdan 12y ago
Amazon Prime works on most gaming systems and Roku, just not Chromecast and AppleTV.
- ssharp 12y ago
  I don't think gaming systems and Roku as entries to streaming entertainment are great long-term, mass-market options. They are/were good for early adopters or the more tech-oriented. But for the larger markets, Chromecast, Apple TV, the new Amazon service, and smart TVs is where the market is evolving.
  - officemonkey 12y ago
    I think you're off base. Roku is a very mature product. Amazon might be able to beat it with marketing, but one could argue that Chromecast, Apple TV and Amazon have to catch up with Roku.
    - ssharp 12y ago
      You're absolutely right. Roku has been around longer and is more fully featured than many of its competitors, but that's not going to matter in the long-run. Google, Apple, and Amazon all have substantially more brand recognition and marketing power than Roku. Additionally, those three companies are also building upon their existing businesses to drive their TV devices and strategy. Smart TVs are also going to cut back on the number of people buying these types of devices. Roku is a fine option, but I don't see it being a big player a few years from now. I may be wrong, but I think they'll ultimately end up serving a niche market. I think home streaming is still in
  - timjahn 12y ago
    Have you used the latest Roku (Roku 3)? The interface is extremely non-tech-consumer friendly.
  - untog 12y ago
    You don't think that the Xbox 360 (with 79.4 million in sales[1]) are a better long term, mass market option than the Apple TV (with 13 million[2])? Games consoles are not very tech-oriented. The Roku is every bit as tech-oriented as the Apple TV (they're basically the same product by different companies). [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_sales http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_sales [2] http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/28/4374480/apple-tv-sales-13-million-to-date http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/28/4374480/apple-tv-sales-13-...
    - ssharp 12y ago
      What percentage of that 79.4 million bought the XBox 360 specifically for its video options? 100% of Apple's 13 million did. I personally use the 360 as my living room vehicle for Netflix and Amazon, but that's only because I also use it to occasionally play games.
      - nivla 12y ago
        I would say the percentage is higher than you think. So much that the Xbox One seems to be designed more like an entertainment system than a gaming console. I don't game much but I use my Xbox 360 as a glorified streaming device. WMC, Xfinity and Amazon Prime all of them are convenient on 360 especially when compared to Comcast's clunky set top box interface. Ohh did you know Comcast allows me to stream full HD for free on the Xfinity app whereas to do it on their Set Top Box, not only do I have to get a new one, I would have to pay $5 extra per month.
  - bloke_zero 12y ago
    With the Amazon Instant Video app on an iPhone/iPad you can use Airplay to stream to an AppleTV. I've never used it but do this a lot with BBC iPlayer which works really well for me.
  - zenocon 12y ago
    The Amazon Prime, Netflix apps are front-and-center on the Xbox and PS3 console dashboards. One click install, enter username / password, and you have a very easy to use navigation / search for instantly streaming anything. If you own one of these devices (a lot of people do), it is a pretty easy experience. The problem I have with devices from Apple, Google, Amazon are that they limit them to make their own content front and center, and often they won't even allow sources outside their own. With a console, I can stream from Hulu, AMZN, Netflix, or a PC in the office. Plus if you add a DLNA server like http://playon.tv http://playon.tv, you add hundreds of other sources.
- dublinben 12y ago
  Or any Android devices but their own awful Kindle Fire tablets. Or any GNU/linux operating systems.
  - Touche 12y ago
    Amazon does work on Linux.
ssharp 12y ago
HBO is also sticking it to Netflix with this move. It's clear that traditional premium channels and streaming premium channels are on a collision course and it makes sense for HBO to spread their content juice to someone other than the streaming Goliath. Selling the content to Netflix would give Netflix an even stronger position as it continues to flank traditional cable. While this move makes Amazon stronger, it makes Netflix weaker. I hope this will help expand Amazon's reach and get their service on to more devices. Netflix needs a legitimate competitor and Amazon looks to become a formidable player in the streaming arena.
wlesieutre 12y ago
Amazon's streaming is on Roku already, with support for Prime and rentals/purchases. I don't see why they'd have any problem with Chromecast. The Fire TV doesn't seem like a product where they intend to make money off of the hardware. It's just a means to get their content in front of more eyeballs. Their big battle (in my opinion) is that Netflix has a whole lot of name recognition, and that's where making an Amazon streaming box can help. Right now people associate Amazon more with buying physical goods, and less with digital media where their main presence is with the Kindle brand.
- ssharp 12y ago
  I saw a Vizio smart TV that has a red "Netflix" button on the remote. That may change if Amazon becomes a legit competitor to Netflix, but Netflix definitely has a stronghold.
  - eclipxe 12y ago
    Kinda like this Amazon button on a Vizio remote? (next to Netflix) - http://cdn.vizio.com/resources/img/technology/remote.jpg http://cdn.vizio.com/resources/img/technology/remote.jpg

whichdan 12y ago

Amazon Prime works on most gaming systems and Roku, just not Chromecast and AppleTV.

ssharp 12y ago
I don't think gaming systems and Roku as entries to streaming entertainment are great long-term, mass-market options. They are/were good for early adopters or the more tech-oriented. But for the larger markets, Chromecast, Apple TV, the new Amazon service, and smart TVs is where the market is evolving.
- officemonkey 12y ago
  I think you're off base. Roku is a very mature product. Amazon might be able to beat it with marketing, but one could argue that Chromecast, Apple TV and Amazon have to catch up with Roku.
  - ssharp 12y ago
    You're absolutely right. Roku has been around longer and is more fully featured than many of its competitors, but that's not going to matter in the long-run. Google, Apple, and Amazon all have substantially more brand recognition and marketing power than Roku. Additionally, those three companies are also building upon their existing businesses to drive their TV devices and strategy. Smart TVs are also going to cut back on the number of people buying these types of devices. Roku is a fine option, but I don't see it being a big player a few years from now. I may be wrong, but I think they'll ultimately end up serving a niche market. I think home streaming is still in
- timjahn 12y ago
  Have you used the latest Roku (Roku 3)? The interface is extremely non-tech-consumer friendly.
- untog 12y ago
  You don't think that the Xbox 360 (with 79.4 million in sales[1]) are a better long term, mass market option than the Apple TV (with 13 million[2])? Games consoles are not very tech-oriented. The Roku is every bit as tech-oriented as the Apple TV (they're basically the same product by different companies). [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_sales http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360_sales [2] http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/28/4374480/apple-tv-sales-13-million-to-date http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/28/4374480/apple-tv-sales-13-...
  - ssharp 12y ago
    What percentage of that 79.4 million bought the XBox 360 specifically for its video options? 100% of Apple's 13 million did. I personally use the 360 as my living room vehicle for Netflix and Amazon, but that's only because I also use it to occasionally play games.
    - nivla 12y ago
      I would say the percentage is higher than you think. So much that the Xbox One seems to be designed more like an entertainment system than a gaming console. I don't game much but I use my Xbox 360 as a glorified streaming device. WMC, Xfinity and Amazon Prime all of them are convenient on 360 especially when compared to Comcast's clunky set top box interface. Ohh did you know Comcast allows me to stream full HD for free on the Xfinity app whereas to do it on their Set Top Box, not only do I have to get a new one, I would have to pay $5 extra per month.
- bloke_zero 12y ago
  With the Amazon Instant Video app on an iPhone/iPad you can use Airplay to stream to an AppleTV. I've never used it but do this a lot with BBC iPlayer which works really well for me.
- zenocon 12y ago
  The Amazon Prime, Netflix apps are front-and-center on the Xbox and PS3 console dashboards. One click install, enter username / password, and you have a very easy to use navigation / search for instantly streaming anything. If you own one of these devices (a lot of people do), it is a pretty easy experience. The problem I have with devices from Apple, Google, Amazon are that they limit them to make their own content front and center, and often they won't even allow sources outside their own. With a console, I can stream from Hulu, AMZN, Netflix, or a PC in the office. Plus if you add a DLNA server like http://playon.tv http://playon.tv, you add hundreds of other sources.
dublinben 12y ago
Or any Android devices but their own awful Kindle Fire tablets. Or any GNU/linux operating systems.
- Touche 12y ago
  Amazon does work on Linux.

ssharp 12y ago

HBO is also sticking it to Netflix with this move. It's clear that traditional premium channels and streaming premium channels are on a collision course and it makes sense for HBO to spread their content juice to someone other than the streaming Goliath. Selling the content to Netflix would give Netflix an even stronger position as it continues to flank traditional cable. While this move makes Amazon stronger, it makes Netflix weaker. I hope this will help expand Amazon's reach and get their service on to more devices. Netflix needs a legitimate competitor and Amazon looks to become a formidable player in the streaming arena.

wlesieutre 12y ago

Amazon's streaming is on Roku already, with support for Prime and rentals/purchases. I don't see why they'd have any problem with Chromecast. The Fire TV doesn't seem like a product where they intend to make money off of the hardware. It's just a means to get their content in front of more eyeballs. Their big battle (in my opinion) is that Netflix has a whole lot of name recognition, and that's where making an Amazon streaming box can help. Right now people associate Amazon more with buying physical goods, and less with digital media where their main presence is with the Kindle brand.

ssharp 12y ago
I saw a Vizio smart TV that has a red "Netflix" button on the remote. That may change if Amazon becomes a legit competitor to Netflix, but Netflix definitely has a stronghold.
- eclipxe 12y ago
  Kinda like this Amazon button on a Vizio remote? (next to Netflix) - http://cdn.vizio.com/resources/img/technology/remote.jpg http://cdn.vizio.com/resources/img/technology/remote.jpg