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The pact was built into CBS‘ decision to greenlight the serialized drama from Steven Spielberg and Stephen King based on King’s novel for next summer. It establishes an in-season, online subscription-video-on-demand (SVOD) window for the show on Amazon’s Prime Instant Video service, which will become the exclusive online subscription home for Under The Dome.
Amazon Prime members will have unlimited streaming of all the series’ episodes four days after their initial broadcast on CBS. The unusual deal helps CBS offset the cost and was key for picking up an elaborate serialized drama for the off-season. There had been speculation that Under The Dome would be made available on Amazon after 24 episodes had aired. But Scott Koondel, Chief Corporate Content Licensing Officer for CBS Corp., explains the rationale behind the window’s length. “With this innovative agreement, we’re giving fans more options to watch and stay current with this serialized series, and doing so in a way that protects the Television Network’s C3 advertising window,” he said.
Last week, Amazon announced an exclusive online subscription deal for another scripted series, PBS’ hit Downton Abbey. Under The Dome is produced by CBS TV Studios in association Spielberg’s Amblin TV. Neal Baer, King, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Stacey Snider, Jack Bender and Brian K. Vaughan, who wrote the television adaptation, serve as executive producers. Niels Arden Oplev will direct the first episode. Casting for the series is currently under way.
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I’m probably missing something, hope one of our brilliant Deadline readers can explain it to me. Why would CBS need to stream via amazon? And why would a consumer, who can watch network tv for no additional pay or link thru, WANT to stream the show? Can’t cbs just keep the show up online and let people watch it on their website? What’s the benefit to CBS? (especially assuming people wouldn’t PAY for something they can get for free?)
CBS is a VERY conservative, risk-averse company and network. They are very cautious with new models and new technology. This is probably a way to put a toe in the water for the emerging streaming models. With brand names like King and Spielberg, it is “safe”.
I’m a good example, since I cut the cable cord, I’ve also stopped watching broadcast entirely. I haven’t even bothered to figure out if I could (in San Francisco, the hills block over the air signals) plus I’m used to watching TV with no ads via Netflix. It’s just simpler to have everhing on the same system and far cheaper than extortionate cable.
If this deal with CBS means that Netflix won’t get it eventually (though it would be in CBS’s interest to put it everywhere), then I’ll skip it. Signing up for two services is too much $$$.
Because Amazon is paying to stream the video, rather than it being an expense for CBS to stream it on their own website. I am sure that you, like CBS, would have a preference for revenue over expense?
If I miss an episode of an “elaborate serialized drama” I stop watching and wait for reruns or the DVD set… what I will not do is watch the episodes on the networks website because the image quality is truly horrible. Unlike the networks, Amazon or Netflix see internet streaming as a revenue generator and so ensure a certain level of image quality.
This deal with Amazon would give CBS an immediate cash flow for the show, allow viewers to stream a decent quality missed episode before the airing of the next one, and drive a few tens of thousands of people into buying the Amazon Prime service. Win-win-win.
Just not up here in Canada where the government regulators are protecting our wealthy network owners from having to provide quality options to us.
Pedro – the deal is that folks can stream ALL the episodes four days after the premiere. So they can see them online before on TV. It’s beneficial to CBS because their audience doesn’t typically go for serialized fare, and this partnership with Amazon makes it easier and more appealing for viewers to watch a serialized show. They can watch it all at once. Also, they want to attract people who don’t usually watch CBS, so going through Amazon rather than their own website gives them a platform to reach those viewers.
Well, if you’re already an Amazon Prime Member the it costs nothing extra to stream it. I have no doubt Amazon forked over some cash to make this happen.
The benefit for CBS is Amazon is paying for the rights to stream. CBS can use that money to offset to cost of the expensive show. The benefit for Amazon is they get exclusive online distribution of a brand new show. The benefit for consumers is that a growing number of people are moving toward Roku boxes and the like, and now they can watch this show within days of it airing.
“The unusual deal helps CBS offset the cost and was key for picking up an elaborate serialized drama for the off-season.”
Big bucks from Amazon and a big exclusive for Amazon Prime.
This is perfect for my family. We watch some TV shows, but only have an over the air HD antenna. We don’t have a dvr because between Netflix and amazon prime we have everything we can’t get on VOD. Why would I want to sit in front of the TV at a certain time when I can stream it anytime.
It’s a shame they didn’t pick better source material. The book was crap on a stick.
/Now where’s a reboot of ‘The Stand’?
Could we eventually see a world where Netflix,Amazon,Hulu Plus and iTunes all have 100% excuslive content rather than the cable model where each has some exclusive content and some shared content?
The content producers wouldn’t like that. Their interest is to get their content everywhere. Depends on who has the power I guess.