Amazon or Netflix – which of ’em is going to take over the world?!
Bwahhhh:
by Casey Johnston
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Amazon is attempting to lay the groundwork for a for-pay live Web TV service. The service would offer channels like those currently provided through cable and satellite TV.
The WSJ previously reported that Amazon was developing a set-top box for content delivery that would be similar to Roku or Apple TV. Ostensibly it would work with Amazon’s own Prime Instant Video, but a connected set-top box would also have the potential to deliver streaming live TV.
Sources speaking to the WSJ said that Amazon has “approached at least three big media conglomerates seeking rights to distribute their channels online.” The company’s efforts mirror some of those of Intel’s media platform, which sold to Verizon today. Intel tried for two years to get content distributors on board with the “search and discover” features that would have been its signature, but ultimately it failed to lure distributors away from cable companies.