USA Today reports that Amazon has "denied reports that it is planning a new pay-TV service." Spokesman Drew Herdener tells the paper that "we continue to build selection for Prime Instant Video and create original shows at Amazon Studios, but we are not planning to license television channels or offer a pay-TV service."
MNB yesterday took note of a Wall Street Journal report that Amazon "has approached big entertainment companies about licensing their television channels for a possible new online pay-TV service, in what would be a significant expansion of the company’s online video efforts." The story noted that Sony and Google are considering similar initiatives, and that Amazon's discussions are still "in the early stages," with no sense of whether or when the project might come to fruition.
MNB yesterday took note of a Wall Street Journal report that Amazon "has approached big entertainment companies about licensing their television channels for a possible new online pay-TV service, in what would be a significant expansion of the company’s online video efforts." The story noted that Sony and Google are considering similar initiatives, and that Amazon's discussions are still "in the early stages," with no sense of whether or when the project might come to fruition.
- KC's View:
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I'm not sure we can take this denial entirely at face value. It may not be likely in the short-term, but it probably isn't impossible.
Besides…I got a bunch of emails yesterday from folks who could hardly wait to sign on, so frustrated are they with the cable companies.
So there's an appetite.
