February 09, 2012, 9:06 AM — It's been another interesting week in the world of streaming video. Early in the week Netflix launched Lilyhammer, its first original TV series. (I watched the first episode and thought it was pretty good.)
Then Verizon and Redbox spilled the beans on a new collaborative enterprise that they say will launch sometime in the second half of the year. As I understand things, subscribers will pay one fee for streaming video through Verizon and disk rentals via Redbox kiosks. Verizon sounds pretty pumped about this deal but they're being really vague about the details, like how much it's going to cost.
Redbox also spent $100 million to purchase Blockbuster's 9000 kiosks, formerly operated by NCR Corporation. Prior to the purchase Redbox has 35,400 kiosks out there in strip-mall land, so this purchase could mark a pretty significant expansion for the company (though presumably in some locations the two kiosks currently compete for audience). The LA Times has more details but it isn't clear if there's any direct correlation between this purchase and the new Verizon/Redbox service.
Lastly just yesterday Amazon announced a deal with Viacom to bring the latter's content to Amazon Prime Streaming. This means content from MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, TV Land, Spike, VH1, BET, CMT and Logo; Amazon says there are now over 15,000 pieces of content in the Prime Streaming Service. You can read the full press release that really pushes the Kindle Fire connection.
According to the rumor mill, this deal means more than just free episodes of Yo Gabba Gabba and Jersey Shore. If the stories are true, Amazon is planning on spinning off Amazon Prime Streaming into a stand-alone service. What makes this rumor fun is the source: Netflix, of all places! According to Reuters, Netflix posted a letter to shareholders that held this quote: "We expect Amazon to continue to offer their video service as a free extra with Prime domestically but also to brand their video subscription offering as a standalone service at a price less than ours."
Well, while we wait to see how all this plays out, I'll go back and finish up the first season of Lilyhammer. Steven Van Zandt plays Frankie "the Fixer" Tagliano, a relocated mobster trying to fit into the small town of Lillehammer, Norway. Great stuff. When he wakes up to find a sheep's head on the sidewalk outside his apartment, it isn't from someone trying to send a message. It's from someone (the chief of police!) who dropped her dinner on the way home from market. "It's delicious!" she tells Frank as he stands there dumbfounded, trying to parse the situation. I guess you'd call it a dramedy but we'll see what happens as Frankie gets established. Check it out if you're a Netflix subscriber.
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