Amazon's deals with CBS and NBC to Offer Streams of more TV Shows-Movies

On June 20, The L.A. Times's Meg James and Ben Fritz reported that Amazon reached a deal to offer streams of older CBS-owned tv shows, including "Frasier," "Cheers" and "Star Trek."

Financial terms and length of the deal were not known but analysts believe, the L.A. Times said, that the arrangement is for 18 months to two years.

' Beginning next month, customers who subscribe to the Amazon Prime streaming service will have access to episodes of 18 TV series owned by CBS, including Showtime's "The Tudors," and the complete "Star Trek" franchise [as well as "Frasier" and "Cheers"]...

With the deal, Amazon will have more than 8,000 movies and television episodes available through its Prime service plan.  That's still significantly less than the estimated 20,000-plus available from Netflix, which doesn't disclose the exact number.
. . .
Wall Street appears slightly concerned about Amazon's upcoming expenditures as it amasses entertainment content that could be viewed on a variety of devices, including the online bookseller's anticipated competitor to Apple Inc.'s iPad.

"Amazon can potentially succeed in streaming, but not without material startup losses," Barclays Capital media analyst Anthony DiClemente said in a report. "Streaming media is likely to weigh on Amazon margins." '

That would match the news of expected huge expenses projected for the next quarter which some experts expect will be affected by the ramping up of activity in connection with the rumored tablet[s].

TODAY, Bloomberg's Lisa Rapaport reports that Amazon also reached an agreement with NBCUniversal Domestic TV Distribution, and this deal will include films such as “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Gosford Park,” and “Elizabeth.”

This adds another 1,000+ to the catalog of streaming video included at no extra cost with the Amazon Prime program, for a total of more than 9,000.

Kindle owners have expressed interest in Amazon's expected tablet and what will be offered for what would be a supplemental or complementary device.


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