Netflix and Amazon want to own the the video streaming market and have been wheeling and dealing to get the most compelling content. Both companies just announced the fruits of that labor, with partnerships that will add new streaming content to each service.
Amazon says that they will add more than 2000 titles to the online retailer's Prime streaming service, thanks to a new deal with FOX. With the new movies and TV shows, it will bring the total number of Prime offerings to around 11,000.
The new titles will include movies, such as Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, Speed, and Office Space. There will also be plenty of TV show options, from mega-hits like 24 to cult classics such as Arrested Development. It also includes The Wonder Years, a classic TV show that's just now making its digital debut.
"We have received very positive feedback from Prime members about Prime instant videos. Customers love the instant access to thousands of movie and TV favorites," said Steve Oliver, director of Video at Amazon.com. "Since the launch of Prime instant videos in February, we have more than doubled the library to 11,000 titles and will continue to add more of our customers' favorite movies and TV shows to Prime instant videos."
Netflix subscribers will be happy that they hung in with the controversial streaming service. Today, the company announced a new deal with DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. Under this multi-year licensing agreement, Netflix will get the exclusive on first-run feature films and select TV specials from the same people that brought us Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon. New content will come in 2013. However, catalog titles, such as Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar 2, Chicken Run, Antz, and others, will also be made available over time.
"DreamWorks Animation is one of the few family entertainment brands that really matters. The studio is brilliantly creative, technologically innovative and incredibly successful at making films and TV shows that delight people of all ages," said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer of Netflix. "This agreement strengthens the lineup of great family content Netflix members will be able to watch instantly and also increases the number of hit first-run films we'll have available in the pay TV window."
Netflix offers unlimited streaming of titles in their catalog for $7.99 per month. In addition to unlimited streaming, Amazon Prime offers subscribers unlimited free two-day shipping on Amazon purchases for a yearly fee of $79. That membership also includes the option to get one-day shipping for $3.99 per item on most of the items in Amazon's inventory. What sets Amazon apart from Netflix is that Amazon also offers premium streaming content for purchase or rent, in addition to the library of "free" titles. Both services are currently available on hundreds of HDTVs, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, tablets, computers, smartphones, and other devices.
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