In what will surely be perceived as a huge blow to Netflix, HBO and Amazon have announced a first-of-its-kind streaming partnership. Beginning May 21, Amazon Prime Instant Video subscribers will be able to stream popular HBO original series. This is the first time HBO has licensed its content for streaming without requiring a subscription.
Shows that will be available include complete seasons of “The Sopranos,” “Six Feet Under,” “The Wire,” “Big Love,” “Deadwood,” “Eastbound & Down,” “Family Tree,” “Enlightened,” “Treme,” as well as early seasons of “Boardwalk Empire” and “True Blood,” and more.
Brad Beale, director of content acquisition for Amazon, said the following about the deal:
“HBO has produced some of the most groundbreaking, beloved and award-winning shows in television history, with more than 115 Emmys among the assortment of shows coming to Prime members next month . . . HBO original content is some of the most-popular across Amazon Instant Video—our customers love watching these shows.”
Is this exciting news for you, Insiders? How nervous should Netflix be about this content coup for Amazon?
[via Home Media Magazine]
Excited for sure and Netflix definitely should be nervous. Amazon is not playing around
Glad I got Amazon Prime as a student. This explains in part why costs went up recently.
Doesn’t matter to us, we don’t watch any of that stuff.
I got an AMZN Prime student account mostly for free shipping on books and school related materials. I considered the free streaming as a bonus since I already have NFLX. This new HBO content is definitely a plus and may make me keep my Prime account when I am no longer eligible for student discount.
Now if we can just get DirecTv to allow streaming of HBOGo to Roku I would be all set!
HBOGO is available for me as a subscriber to DirecTV via my Roku – this happenned months ago.
Doesn’t make any difference to me…I haven’t watched any of the shows except for The Sopranos (and I have HBO).
Watch “The Wire.”
But HBO still doesn’t have anything I want to watch.
Golly, I have never watched an single one of those HBO shows.