AfterDawn: News

Amazon launches VOD streaming video service

Amazon has launched a new streaming video service dubbed Amazon Video on Demand today. The service is entirely separate from the current Unbox download service which allows for downloads of movies and TV shows. The main difference however, only seems to be that the new service is streaming, meaning customers can watch their content instantly.

Amazon already has deals in place to distribute 40,000 movies and television shows.



Making the launch more notable is that the service will also be available though the Internet Video Link found in Sony Bravia HDTVs so customers can stream the videos directly to their TVs without the need for a PC.

“For the first time, this is drop dead simple,” said Bill Carr, Amazon’s vice president for digital media. “Our goal is to create an immersive experience where people can’t help but get caught up in how exciting it is to simply watch a movie right from Amazon.com with a click of the button.”

With this latest move Amazon moves into crowded field, where heavyweights such as Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, and Tivo have roamed for some time. How the service will succeed remains to be seen.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 17 Jul 2008 17:37

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• 2 comments

• mspurloc

  Getting closer, but still missing the point. What people want, when I ask them, is to be able to watch VOD without a box, without a PC, or without a specially-equipped TV set.
  
  In short, they want Netflix without the snail mail, having to own a set-top box, needing streaming through an Xbox or anything else.
  
  Now if they'd let you download it to your PC, burn it to DVD or stream on a regular home network without restrictions for 14 days, they'd have it. None of this 24 hour expiration crap, either.
  
  But then they'd put a dent in P2P and Hollywood would have nothing to lie about when anybody asks why their crappy "entertainment" isn't selling.

  17.7.2008 23:47 #1

• defgod

  Originally posted by mspurloc: Now if they'd let you download it to your PC, burn it to DVD or stream on a regular home network without restrictions for 14 days, they'd have it. None of this 24 hour expiration crap, either.That actually makes sense. But everyone knows that there isn't a single business in the world that makes any sense whatsoever.
  
  Originally posted by mspurloc: But then they'd put a dent in P2P and Hollywood would have nothing to lie about when anybody asks why their crappy "entertainment" isn't selling.You definitely hit that on the nose. To the media mafia it's all about power and control. The want the power to control everything we do with media. Mostly so they can (try to) make us pay many multiple times to watch/listen to media. The more control they try to have over us. The more we will ignore it. And the more pirating there will be. They are too stupid to realize but they are creating their own demise. It's either that or they will eventually control the governments (more than they already do) and pretty much make us do their bidding. And if/when that happens there will be some kind of global upheaval. end rant

  18.7.2008 02:21 #2