Netflix may have gotten a head start on Amazon with its push into original series development, but the online retailer's streaming video arm has been busily ramping up its own offering as of late, and it's now announced what is by far its highest profile show to date. The company confirmed today that it has signed former Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May for a new show that will be available exclusively to Amazon Prime members.
The deal will also see longtime Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman produce the as-yet-untitled show, which is said to be going into production soon ahead of a premiere sometime in 2016. According to Amazon, the team has committed to three seasons of the show, but details on things like the number of episodes per season or how the show might differ from Top Gear remain light at this point.
As you may recall, Jeremy Clarkson was fired from Top Gear by the BBC earlier this year after what was described as a "fracas" with one of the show's producers. Hammond and May then left the show themselves, which prompted speculation that they would land on another network or a streaming service like Netflix. Indeed, Amazon itself seemed to hint at a bidding war for the show in its announcement, proudly boasting that "Amazon wins the race to sign" the trio.
[via TechCrunch]
