Amazon the e-commerce giant has followed Netflix's lead in expanding its video streaming service to 199 countries including India. The company initially offered this service to its prime subscribers only in a handful of countries like USA and UK. Netflix had done the same thing in January and is present across the globe with an exception of China as the major country which hasn't permitted the service in an attempt to give a boost to local streaming services.
The subscription to Amazon Prime Video is included without any additional cost in Amazon Prime service (Free 1 and 2 day shipping on products) which costs Rs 499 per year in India which is an introductory price. In the US that fee is $99 per year, which is very high. Netflix India offers subscription starting at Rs 500 per month for a single device for SD quality streaming. Hotstar offers premium services at Rs 199 per month.
Amazon Prime Video has tied up with top studios in India which includes names such as Yashraj Studios, Dharma Studios, Vishesh Films of Mahesh Bhatt and T-series for the local content. The company is also in the race for live streaming India's biggest cricket event Indian Premier League (IPL).
From the global catalog, Amazon is bringing popular shows such as Man In The High Castle, The Grand Tour, The Good wife, Two And A Half Men, and more. Some users are reporting that the US catalog is accessible at the moment from the prime account as well. In India, the prime subscription also includes early access to some of the deals on the e-commerce portal.
