Amazon Gives Instant Streaming Options To Prime Members

Move over Netflix and Hulu. Amazon has cannonballed into the world of instant streaming, and their unconventional dive might just be crazy enough to make a splash. For awhile now, the company has offered a Prime Membership that allows for, among other things, free two day shipping, but now they've added commercial-free streaming of more than five thousand movies, documentaries and television shows, all without fee increases. It's still seventy-nine dollars a year to join today, just as it was yesterday, and though the company hasn't made any promises, it's safe to assume this rate will stay at least for the near future.

As for the specifics of what's available, Amazon's press release includes the likes of Syriana, Amadeus, Food INC, the British version of The Office and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo trilogy. That leaves some four thousand nine hundred and ninety odd titles to be riffled through and discovered after you shell out the eighty bucks. If that's too steep a price for you though, I'd advise not telling your children. If those little bastards get wind they can watch Arthur and Misters Rogers on the computer, you'll never hear the end of it.

Let's be honest: this move won't be the end of Netflix. The video rental giant is still growing like a sexy Swedish woman, but at least consumers are starting to get more options. Click on over to Amazon's front page for more details.

Editor In Chief

Mack Rawden is the Editor-In-Chief of CinemaBlend. He first started working at the publication as a writer back in 2007 and has held various jobs at the site in the time since including Managing Editor, Pop Culture Editor and Staff Writer. He now splits his time between working on CinemaBlend’s user experience, helping to plan the site’s editorial direction and writing passionate articles about niche entertainment topics he’s into. He graduated from Indiana University with a degree in English (go Hoosiers!) and has been interviewed and quoted in a variety of publications including Digiday. Enthusiastic about Clue, case-of-the-week mysteries, a great wrestling promo and cookies at Disney World. Less enthusiastic about the pricing structure of cable, loud noises and Tuesdays.