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Amazon could be looking to bring regular news shows to its Prime Video service, according to a new report.
After drawing an Amazon-reported 4 million viewers for its Election Night 2024 coverage, the retailer is now exploring making it part of the subscription service.
Industry giants like Meta and X have recently taken to blocking news stories, contributing to a decline in engagement and views. On top of this, news networks are currently wrestling with a drop in viewership as election season dies down, as well as losing younger viewers to the internet. This is where Amazon sees an opportunity.
Currently, Amazon broadcasts other news outlets. In the UK, it streams right-wing GB News, CNN and Euronews. Other tech companies like Samsung, also bundle in news streaming straight into their internet-based TV broadcasting that comes baked into its recent string of TVs.
For comparison, Amazon’s coverage – hosted by anchor Brian Williams – managed to beat CBS News by a few hundred thousand viewers (CBS drew 3.61 million). However, stalwarts like Fox News and MSNBC dominated with 10.32 million and 6.01 million viewers respectively.
Amazon could follow founder’s footsteps in investing in news
Variety reports that the plans are quite early in development. The tech giant wouldn’t be creating its own news network, but specials similar to the election coverage. They also report that Amazon’s Albert Cheng, who was placed in charge of growing Prime Video in the US, is investigating whether or not it’d be viable.
Amazon has been investing in live broadcasting for a while now. It provides sports coverage across things like tennis and soccer. A move into its own news broadcast would also mimic its founder’s investment into The Washington Post, along with concerns that it’d directly influence the broadcast’s output.
Jeff Bezos’ Nash Holdings currently owns The Washington Post, which has seen a drop in subscribers after recent decisions by the paper. After he blocked an endorsement for Kamala Harris, it saw over 200,000 subscribers dump the paper. Recently, he also blocked a cartoon of himself and other tech leaders handing money over to Donald Trump.
Featured image: Amazon
