Amazon is starting a video-only subscription service to rival Netflix Inc

[dixiegrrrrl]

And they are raising Prime fees.

The company also revealed a monthly payment option for Amazon Prime, the service targeted at frequent online shoppers that previously cost $99 a year for free shipping on many orders, as well as video and music.

Prime Video, which includes on-demand access to thousands of movies and original Amazon productions, will cost $8.99 a month. Amazon Prime will be available on a monthly payment plan of $10.99.

The video plan and new monthly payment for Amazon Prime show the U.S. company is catering to customer calls for more flexible options than a year-long commitment. Those making the annual payment will get a 25 percent discount compared with monthly rates.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-18/amazon-rivals-netflix-with-stand-alone-video-subscriptions

[merrily]

1. It's not just starting. I've had it for a while. I prefer Netflix, but Amazon offers some stuff

Netflix does not.

[still_one]

3. Problem is Nexflix just has much more content than Amazon prime offers, and in my view

until they increase prime content, Netflix will continue to lead.

I also agree that there is some unique content on Amazon that Netflix doesn't have, but the same is true with Netflix, they have their own specially produced content, especially in cooperation with Marvel

It will be interesting if other players jump into this with similar models

[merrily]

4. Maybe I should have been more specific.

I prefer Netflix, but Amazon has some things I really want to see that Netflix does not offer. So, I have both.

[still_one]

6. I have the same thing

[MattP]

2. They won a emmy with Transparent last year

It's really a great show, it's a good time to be a cord cutter the quality of Netflix and Prime video is outstanding and Hulu isn't so bad

[onehandle]

5. Netflix has better technology, video/sound quality, and ease of access.

Last edited Mon Apr 18, 2016, 12:40 PM - Edit history (1)

But on edit, Hulu is the Worst! Bad sound, bad interface, more commercials than broadcast TV.

[dilby]

10. I disagree on the video and sound quality.

I have both Netflix and Prime and I prefer Prime as far as video and sound. However I agree the interface for Netflix is a million times better and their suggestions for movies I may like are better and what is funny is that part of the Netflix business actually runs on Amazon Web Services.

[SheilaT]

7. Prime video, a part of Amazon Prime,

has been around for a while. It tends to have different stuff than Netflix does, so I do both.

I gave up on Hulu a couple of years ago when I got tired of paying to see commercials, although I'm considering paying for their commercial-free option.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Sadly, like so many rural folks, we cannot get good enough speed to stream movies.

[SheilaT]

9. I am sorry to hear that.

There are good reasons to live near a metropolitan area.

[dilby]

11. I didn't quite get the reason why someone would pay a monthly fee

Which is higher than the $99 for prime but a friend of mine reminded me prime is not available in many countries because they can't do the free shipping. Then it also made sense because I originally signed up for Netflix just so in could binge watch Breaking Bad with the intention of cancelling once done. I kind of not got around to cancelling and it's been 2 years. So they may want to cash in on people just looking to binge watch for a month.

[bhikkhu]

12. My guess is streaming video has been a money loser for Amazon

while a monthly video-only service might be profitable.

I've used the video streaming service for awhile as a prime customer, though I mostly got it for free shipping and kindle stuff. I noticed they changed the video homepage a month or two ago, so now it features pay-per view and outside content pretty heavily, compared to prime content. And there seems to be a big slowdown in new prime content. I'd guess there was some big board meeting where they crunched the numbers and decided a different way forward.

[Egnever]

13. The best thing about Netflix

No commercials.

I recently did a trial of prime and right away was annoyed by commercials. I refuse to pay for commercials. If they want to show me commercials then I want to see it free.

Unless they remove the commercials I will be passing on the amazon video. The main motivator for me cutting the cord over ten years ago was the commercials I find them that annoying.

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. Serious pisser for me was the Amazon Kindle WITH ads.

You had to pay more to get an ad free version.

Ads? to read a book? Hell no.
That kinda crap will lead to us having to watch a commercial before the car will start up.