CBS Licenses Shows to Amazon in Challenge to Netflix and Hulu

Amazon.com has signed a deal with CBS allowing it to stream thousands of episodes of CBS shows online, strengthening its challenge to Netflix and Hulu. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed but analysts estimated its value to be more than $100 million. The non-exclusive licensing agreement adds 2,000 episodes of CBS shows including full seasons of 18 series -- including "Numb3rs," "Medium," "Star Trek," "Cheers" and "The Tudors" -- at no additional cost to subscribers of Amazon Prime service, Amazon said today in a statement. Amazon Prime is a membership program that gives subscribers discounts on shipping for an annual fee of $79. In a push to challenge Netflix and Hulu, Amazon said in February it would offer Prime customers unlimited streaming access to a library of content. The CBS deal expands that library to more than 8,000 movies and TV shows. Dozens of CBS shows will also become available through Amazon Instant Video, which streams movies and TV shows on an a la carte basis. CBS, for its part, now has deals with Amazon and Netflix, which just upset many consumers by hiking prices for streaming-plus -DVD subscriptions, but not Hulu, which is currently up for sale. -- Bloomberg News --

CBS Licenses Shows to Amazon in Challenge to Netflix and Hulu

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