“Non-HBO subscribers will soon be able to watch some of the network’s old TV shows, like ‘The Sopranos’ and ‘The Wire,’ on Amazon Prime’s streaming video service,” Brian Stelter reports for CNNMoney. “Amazon described the deal as a first for HBO, which has a reputation for being tightfisted with its library of hit shows — even ones that stopped airing years ago.”
“The deal draws a bright line between old and new,” Stelter reports. “The seasons of ‘Girls,’ ‘The Newsroom’ and ‘Veep’ that are premiering this year won’t be available through Amazon Prime for approximately three years. That means if viewers want to stay current, they have to subscribe to cable television and HBO (or borrow a friend’s HBO GO password).”
MacDailyNews Take: Sounds like Brian is encouraging something that’s not kosher.
“But a more casual type of viewer, who maybe wants to binge on every season of ‘Six Feet Under’ or ‘Deadwood’ for example, will now be able to do so through Amazon,” Stelter reports. “Previously, the only way for people without HBO to watch the network’s shows would be by purchasing DVDs or individual episodes through Amazon or Apple’s iTunes Store.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Julia” for the heads up.]