In a move similar to its competitor Netflix, Amazon has now expanded its video streaming service, Prime Video, to over 200 countries and territories globally, elbowing the former for market capture now that both will run closely parallel in terms of availability.
Amazon Prime Video Expands Availability
Netflix has another thing to worry about Amazon Prime Video's wide rollout than availability alone — Amazon Prime Video will be offered at a lower price than Netflix in many markets. Amazon has been known to pull this strategy — undercutting its products — on products that range from electronics to books, and it's now doing the same to assure stronger foothold in the video streaming market.
Previously, Amazon's video streaming service was only limited to the United States, UK, Germany, Austria, and Japan. Like Netflix, however, Amazon Prime Video won't enter the Chinese market, since the country has set in place austere regulatory measures that has gate-kept imported streaming services altogether.
A Starting Point For Prime Services
Roy Price, head of Amazon Studios, said the service could lend the company a foothold to expand its core retail business in foreign markets by slowly introducing Amazon Prime membership perks as it trudges along.
"It's easier to put a server in a country than a warehouse, but over time we may follow up with retail around the world," Price said.
Amazon's Prime membership program offers fast and free shipping to its members, alongside other nifty benefits for a fixed annual membership fee. The program was recently brought into China, bringing the tally to 12 countries where the service is available.
Amazon Prime Video Costs
For the first six months, Amazon Prime Video will be offered at an introductory price of $2.99 per month — in European markets € 2.99 — with some countries bundling the streaming service together with Prime at no extra cost. After which, the prices will return to $5.99 in most markets. The price is notably lower from Netflix's, which charges an international rate of $7.99 a month to foreign markets, despite offering a slimmer content library.
Speaking of libraries, Amazon Prime Video will start offering foreign markets award-winning staples Transparent, Mozart in the Jungle, The Man in the High Castle, and recent hit The Grand Tour, alongside "hundreds of popular Hollywood movies and TV shows," said Tim Leslie, VP of Amazon Digital Video International.
At launch, Amazon Prime Video will be offered in a number of languages: English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, including dubbed versions of many titles.
The video streaming service will be available via the Amazon Prime Video app for iOS and Android phones, Amazon Fire tablets, select LG and Samsung connected TVs, and on the web. Fortunately for markets with spotty internet speeds, Amazon will enable users to download content for offline viewing, a feature Netflix recently launched for select titles.
Can Amazon Prime Video usurp Netflix in the video streaming service arena? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
