Multi-year deal will bring classic HBO content, including The Sopranos and The Wire, to Amazon Prime subscribers
SUBSCRIBERS to Amazon Prime will get access to archive programmes from HBO under a $250m video-streaming deal. The agreement, which comes into effect next month, includes exclusive streaming rights for classic shows such as The Sopranos and The Wire. More recent HBO shows will become available “approximately three years after airing on HBO”, Reuters reports, although some programmes will be excluded from the deal. Access to Prime Instant Video costs £5.99 per month. According to the Wall Street Journal the deal represents a coup for Amazon, strengthening the company’s position while delivering a significant blow to Netflix, Amazon’s biggest rival in the streaming TV market. “HBO has produced some of the most groundbreaking programmes in television history,” said Amazon’s Director of Content Acquisition, Brad Beale. “Now Prime members can enjoy a large collection of HBO shows on an unlimited basis, at no additional cost.” Separately, HBO Go, a streaming service that offers instant access to new and old HBO programming, will be made available on Amazon’s Fire TV device. That service is expected to arrive by the end of this year. The first batch of HBO content is due to arrive on Amazon Prime on May 21. · For further concise, balanced comment and analysis on the week's news, try The Week magazine. Subscribe today and get 6 issues completely free. Source: The Week UK
