Amazon beats Netflix for exclusive streaming rights to 'Downton Abbey'
SAN
FRANCISCO -- Amazon said on Friday that it struck an exclusive deal to
distribute seasons of the hit TV show "Downton Abbey" to members of its
subscription-based video streaming service.
The online retailer said that later this year, no digital subscription service other than Prime Instant Video will offer any seasons of "Downton Abbey."
The phenomenally successful British period drama, now in its third season, has become both a critical success and a
The phenomenally successful British period drama, now in its third season, has become both a critical success and a cult favorite among its many U.S. fans
Prime Instant Video will continue to be the exclusive subscription home through Season 4 and, if produced, Season 5 of the show, the company added.
The deal is the latest effort by Amazon, the world's largest Internet retailer, to expand in digital content and take on Netflix (NFLX), the leading online video subscription service in the United
Amazon is spending heavily on licensing deals for movies and TV shows to attract more viewers to Prime Instant Video. The service is offered free to subscribers of Amazon Prime, the company's broader online shopping subscription program, which costs $79 a year for two-day shipping in the United States.
Netflix and rival Hulu Plus, owned by Comcast, News Corp. and Disney, currently offer some seasons of "Downton Abbey." As of July 1, no "Downton Abbey" seasons will be available on Netflix, according to a person familiar with the agreement between Amazon and PBS.
By obtaining exclusive rights later this year to stream "Downton Abbey" on Prime Instant Video, Amazon is hoping more people will sign up for its broader Prime service. When that happens, shoppers often spend more on Amazon.com, analysts say.
Amazon's choice of "Downton Abbey" was likely driven by an analysis of buying behavior by existing customers, a strength of Amazon's.
The company noted that Seasons 1 and 2 of the series are the most-watched TV seasons of all time on the Prime Instant Video service already.
"Our Prime customers have spoken," Brad Beale, director of digital video content acquisition for Amazon, said in a statement. "The series is consistently in our top most watched TV shows each week."
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