As expected, Amazon launched the Prime Instant Video streaming service as part of the $79 per year Prime shipping service with about 5,000 movies and TV shows at launch. The streaming feature is only available for paid Prime accounts, not educational or "Mom" accounts.
As of this morning, Netflix has 11,565 titles (via Instantwatcher), and while Amazon only offers 5,000, they're just getting started. There are some big titles (like the Girl with The Dragon Tattoo series), most of the movie and TV shows are catalog titles. The number of titles is less important than the quality of the selection, and my initial impression is that Netflix has spent quite a bit of money to acquire a good mix of new and old titles, but Amazon has deep pockets and I expect them to improve the quality of the selection over time.
The strangest omission is the lack of a queue. Netflix is rumored to be dropping the queue, but I like saving movies I'm interested in for later watching. While scrolling through the Amazon Prime selection I saw several titles I would like to watch at another time, but there was no way to save or mark the title.
I'm a regular Amazon customer and have used the Prime service in the past, but always thought paying $80 per year for fast & free shipping was a bit high. With the addition of 5,000 movies and TV shows it's an interesting alternative to Netflix, but I think many Netflix customers will add Prime streaming (along with Hulu Plus).
With Netflix and Hulu Plus charging $7.99 per month, I'm wondering if Amazon will offer monthly pricing for Prime instead of the $79 per year fee ($6.58 per month).
Amazon is one of the few streaming competitors that has the ability to also sell new releases through video-on-demand, so having a so-so collection of movies and TV shows can drive people to purchase new releases on VOD or DVD. On the same page for Amadeus they also offered new releases on VOD like The Social Network and Inception, titles that Netflix customers would have to wait to get on DVD.
The Amazon Prime Instant Video service is also available on the Roku Player, Google TV, and other Amazon-supported hardware devices. Here's a shot of the Amazon service on the Roku Player:
Amazon is offering a free, one month trial of Prime with streaming.
Thanks to Jarrod, Chad, Seth, Jeff, Elizabeth, Tom, Arvid, and everyone else for sending this in.
Shit just got real.
Posted by: BP | February 22, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Re: "Shit just got real"
Not really...yet. I haven't been able find a free streaming title yet that Netflix Watch Instantly isn't already showing. Now if they start to have competing catalogs with different titles? Well that would be great for me because my Roku supports Amazon Video on Demand and Netflix Watch Instantly and I currently have Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Posted by: Dan Geiser | February 22, 2011 at 10:50 AM
Bah - Amazon Prime Student accounts don't qualify for the streaming service.
Posted by: Niles | February 22, 2011 at 10:51 AM
I wasn't offered the one month free for Prime. I have had Prime before, maybe a year or two ago, so maybe I am not eligible.
Posted by: David | February 22, 2011 at 10:54 AM
Amazon can't offer Prime at a monthly rate because people would just sign up for one month, order a ton of items and then quit, especially around Christmas.
Posted by: Jonathan | February 22, 2011 at 10:56 AM
Streaming is only one piece of the content puzzle. DVDs still account for a large portion of how people watch, and will remain so for a long time coming. Netflix essentially gives me access to any movie/tv show that I want (whether it be streaming or DVD) for one flat rate. Amazon is offering access to whatever streaming titles they have, but what happens when they don't offer something I want to see? The best they're doing is letting me buy the DVD and get free Prime shipping on it.
As long as DVDs account for a significant portion of where the content's at, I think Netflix is still the better deal.
Posted by: Matt | February 22, 2011 at 10:58 AM
It isn't available on my TiVo premiere and I've always thought the quality of the amazon video downloads that I could get through my TiVo to be quite lacking when compared to Netflix.
Posted by: WendyD | February 22, 2011 at 11:02 AM
If Amazon manages to get a selection at least equal to NF I wonder if it could potentially cost them $ as people sign up for the streaming and then take advantage of the shipping?
And it just got real for NF as people who already pay for Prime for the shipping may drop NF and take what they can get from Amazon streaming. Don't know if that number would be large enough to notice from normal turnover though.
Posted by: Bob Emmerich | February 22, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Personal note - no PS3 equals no sale. No que is weird, but I would just keep all the dvds in my "save for later" cart.
Posted by: Bob Emmerich | February 22, 2011 at 11:16 AM
I'm not sure what to think about this. My first impression is that it's good for Netflix to have some competition... I'm not sure I'd switch (or augment) unless Amazon were to come up with some good, unique content. Also, I'm wondering if they'll decouple this service from their Prime shipping service in the future. These two services are quite orthogonal to one another so it's interesting that they even bundle them in the first place. If I weren't locked in for a whole year, I'd be tempted to try it out for a couple months.
The part I find funny is that Netflix uses Amazon for streaming their own content....I'm not sure how this works but I think there could be some conflict of interest with Amazon if they ever became a true competitor.
Posted by: nijaju | February 22, 2011 at 11:22 AM
I know in the kids & family there are quite a few shows that aren't available on instant watch from netflix that I can now access instantly through Prime. As a parent I think I'm going to be annoyed if they do away with the queue on netflix. I do monitor my children's t.v. watching closely, but it is easier choosing from a queue of shows that I've already chosen as age appropriate.
Posted by: Dani | February 22, 2011 at 11:36 AM
I'm putting my Netflix account on hold tonight. I already pay for Prime shipping (devoted Amazon shopper stuck in a rural area-- being able to get anything I want within 2 days does wonders for my sanity) and my Vizio TV works with Amazon on Demand, so I may be the perfect customer.
I'll see how it goes, obviously, but I'm not going to ignore the possibility of saving $8 a month... or swapping my Netflix subscription for Hulu Plus.
Posted by: Emily | February 22, 2011 at 11:37 AM
It was a good ride netflix. With new competition, higher pricing and window from studios. Good luck in your push to 3rd world countries as you try to continue to show growth.
Posted by: jolly | February 22, 2011 at 11:38 AM
"Netflix is rumored to be dropping the queue..." Mike
OMG, please don't let that rumor become fact. The Instant Queue is my only sanity check in navigating the turbulent, shifting-sands of digital licensed content. My Netflix streaming experience will go from "Click and watch, click and watch" to just "Click, click, (hmm maybe?), click, click, etc."
Posted by: dAVe | February 22, 2011 at 11:44 AM
I wish the PS3 would get a Amazon app.
Posted by: jnetty | February 22, 2011 at 11:50 AM
"Bah - Amazon Prime Student accounts don't qualify for the streaming service. "
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh booo!
Posted by: things | February 22, 2011 at 12:01 PM
As an Amazon Student member you already receive:
FREE Two-Day Shipping with no minimum order size
One-Day Shipping for $3.99/item
Upgrade to a paid Amazon Prime membership for $79/year to also get:
Unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of 5,000 movies and TV shows
Posted by: things | February 22, 2011 at 12:03 PM
@ Dan
I just meant that there are now two very real competitors to Netflix. One of them is willing to woo away content creators/distributors with money and customized services and the other has very deep pockets and all ready plays harder ball with creators/distributors than Netflix does.
It's an interesting time to be a consumer. Not so interesting a time to be a Netflix executive that constantly seems to be making poor decisions, I'd wager.
@ dAVe
I didn't even see that. [Rumored to be] Dropping the queue? WHAT THE FUCK, NETFLIX?
Posted by: BP | February 22, 2011 at 12:20 PM
I have Prime already, but the selection looks like the same stuff Netflix streaming offers. I wouldn't buy Roku just so I could use Amazon with it. Already have a PS3 and Wii using Netflix.
Posted by: d | February 22, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Okay, the big news here is really about Netflix maybe dropping the queue. We need to hear more about that.
Posted by: DanielT | February 22, 2011 at 12:39 PM
Note: My understanding is that HD streams will only be sent to devices that Amazon calls "Amazon Instant Video devices". So SD only for the PC and any streaming thru a browser regardless of device.
Posted by: scJohn | February 22, 2011 at 01:23 PM
Big deal for me is no PS3 or Xbox application. Already a prime member.
Posted by: JeffG | February 22, 2011 at 01:25 PM
I hope somebody makes a movie about this someday.... like the Pirates
of Silicon Valley.
Posted by: InstaFlicka Podcast | February 22, 2011 at 01:26 PM
In my quick glance I noticed a few movies Amazon had that Netflix Instant didn't.
Now if someone will make a program to compare my DVD que with Amazon Prime Streaming...
If Netflix drops the que... I would drop my 8+ year account.
Posted by: Garrie | February 22, 2011 at 01:35 PM
Dropping the IW queue would be a huge mistake. Most people when there are over 10,000 titles out there don't remember all of what is out there that they want to see. I put anything I might possibly want ot watch into my IW queue so I can remember to go back to it and consider if I want to watch it or just chuck it.
My kids also watch a lot of IW programming and my 8 year old just figured out how to work it on the PS3. If you take away the queue it will make it much more difficult for kids to watch without an adult having to do it for them.
Bad bad idea Netflix.
Posted by: Jamie | February 22, 2011 at 01:44 PM
Let me address the Netflix queue issue first. They won't and can't delete the instant queue system because it's the last line in their parental controls. Without it devices would all have to have browsing and that browsing would have to all have effective PCs installed. That isn't likely to happen.
Paying up front is one issue they will have. People don't like contracts and commitments when they are unsure of something. I paid for Netflix and Hulu both a year in advance, but I tested them both out heavily before hand.
Also I'm kind of yawning over the issue now. It's just another streamer at this point. People say competition is good, but it depends on who is being competed for. In the streaming market we need fewer companies because the end user isn't being competed for, it's the studios. They are signing massive deals for exclusivity rights and we lose out because now to see what we want we have to pay three times to three different services. Amazon offering more catalog and b-items isn't going to get me. I've already allocated my entertainment budget elsewhere.
Pretty much the only service I wanted to see materialize was Redbox, but I'm not sure they are capable. They hinted at a service that was more like HBO from the past. In that I mean a few hit movies that rotate out. The same strategy they use for their kiosks. That would be a nice compliment to Netflix without having me pay for overlapping content. At this point though it's too late for Redbox.
Posted by: Marshall | February 22, 2011 at 01:46 PM
Amazon only has about 3 major companies that offer good movies. About the same length of movies can be found on Netflix, but I do see a competition brewing between Amazon and Netflix in the near future. Just need to see when is redbox is going to join the streaming world, and what can redbox offer that can eat out either Netflix or Amazon.
Posted by: John | February 22, 2011 at 01:47 PM
Drop the queue and I drop netflix; it's as simple as that.
Posted by: LTM | February 22, 2011 at 02:09 PM
@ Marshall
I'm sorry, I can't parse your entire post because you state you paid for Netflix and Hulu a year in advance. There's no normal way to do that. You'd have to buy yourself yearly gift subscriptions and past some bizarre anti-monthly subscription logic I see no reason to do this.
So, you say that you see the yearly subscription of Amazon Prime as a barrier to entry and then go on to say you went out of your way to buy yourself yearly gift subscriptions to two competing services only to then go on decrying competition as a bad thing for the streaming market? And then you further go on to say that the only streaming competitor you were excited about is the one that would cater to your very own special interest? After previously saying competitors in the streaming market are most likely to offer catalog or b-titles (that would include a large amount of titles of special interest to only a limited subset of customers)?
Look, dude, I'm not sure the logic center in your brain is functioning right. Between this and your whole "RACISM GOES BOTH WAYS OMGGG FRESH NEW OPINIONS HERE GUYS!!!!!" post I'm not really sure you're a real person. If you are, where do you live and what company do you work for so I can be sure to avoid both.
As for the "can't and won't" bit... you're new to corporate America, aren't you?
-BP
Posted by: BP | February 22, 2011 at 02:22 PM
I want more separate queues, not none. And add optional parental controls to the queues.
Posted by: George | February 22, 2011 at 02:23 PM
Why drop the the queue? To mask the amount of content that regularly expires from subscribers?
I'd hate to have to search out titles on the Wii (I know, but I could careless about HD). The app really blows.
Posted by: Kyle | February 22, 2011 at 02:25 PM
I considered Amazon Prime at one point, just because I order a lot of stuff from Amazon. I never got it because of the high price, but lately, their Standard Free Shipping has been taking longer and longer. I was just considering this option again when I heard about the streaming service.
I think the streaming makes for a nice bonus to the Prime service. Either service by themselves would not be as much of a good value as both for a single price, especially if you will regularly use both...which I would.
Would I drop Netflix and just use Amazon? Probably not.
Posted by: byteme | February 22, 2011 at 03:29 PM
No ps3 yet they have a deal with Sony. No way would I sign up without that. Not even a mention of coming soon.
What about wii?
I couldn't even find a place on Amazon/Amadeus to leave questions or comments.
Posted by: brindilou | February 22, 2011 at 03:30 PM
Yeah I don't know what I'd do without my queue. Well, I suppose I'd survive, but it wouldn't be nearly as convenient.
Posted by: Denise | February 22, 2011 at 03:31 PM
If NF drops the queue it will become a lot, lot less attractive to me - that would probably push me to an acceptable competitor that did have a queue, or I'd work around a "save for later" type improvised queue.
Posted by: Kimberly | February 22, 2011 at 03:56 PM
As for the PS3. Supposedly Bravia Internet Video apps are coming to the PS3. Which is the apps on Sonys TVs & Blu-Ray players. Which should include Amazon Video On Demand?
Netflix would be mental to remove the Instant Queue?
As for Amazons big opening. Kind of a *yawn* opening. If no one can find content that is drastically different from what Netflix currently has. However well see as time goes on.
Since Amazon is here with there all you can watch service. Things might heat up. Let's hope good things occur and not worse things.
Posted by: Crow550 | February 22, 2011 at 04:01 PM
i figured out a workaround to "save to que" you can "add to wish list"... in addition i noticed a chrome plugin to make it easier too...
can't wait until i can do this on my ps3
Posted by: admin | February 22, 2011 at 04:20 PM
DUDE!!!! some one actually gives a damn about movies. Subtitling rocks on amazon!
Posted by: admin | February 22, 2011 at 04:26 PM
I thought a lot of devices required the Instant Queue. I know that's the only thing my Mother-in-Law's Blu-Ray player could access, unless there has been a firmware update.
Posted by: Jeff | February 22, 2011 at 04:26 PM
Are there any actual facts to back up the rumor that Netflix may be dropping its queue? (I assume this refers to an Instant queue?) While Netflix dropped the ability to add DVDs to the DVD queue while watching Instant on TV, the notion that they'd drop an Instant queue altogether makes no sense. The queues are an important component of Netflix, and I'm skeptical this has any basis in fact. If I'm wrong, I'd love to know details so I can communicate my thoughts to Amazon. Thanks!
Posted by: Laura | February 22, 2011 at 04:39 PM