Sky and Amazon Settle Differences – Prime Instant Video Arrives on Roku

[Scubbie]

Sky and Amazon Settle Differences - Prime Instant Video Arrives on Roku - ISPreview UK

Sky (Sky Broadband), which has a big investment in Roku UK’s popular video streaming kit and uses the hardware for their own Internet-based NOW TV video streaming service, appears to have finally reached a compromise with Amazon’s rival Prime Instant Video.

The Roku platform continues to be one of most successful alternative TV / movie / video streaming devices on the market, which gives broadband users access to all sorts of popular catch-up TV apps / content (4OD, BBC iPlayer etc.) and that includes premium content from NOW TV and Netflix etc.

However Sky, which owns NOW TV, also has a big investment in Roku’s UK division and that has historically made it challenging for Amazon to put its own Prime Instant Video (formerly LOVEFiLM) service on Roku. Likewise NOW TV does not appear on Amazon’s own competing Prime TV Stick and related devices.

The situation has tended to divide consumers and is becoming increasingly untenable now that it’s possible to get both streaming services together on various other devices and platforms. As such it’s perhaps no surprise that Roku has just confirmed the availability of Amazon’s Prime Instant Video service on their UK devices.

Roku’s Statement

Attention UK streamers! We know how much you like to catch up with all the latest and most popular movies and TV episodes, so we’re excited to announce that Amazon Video is now available on all Roku streaming players in the UK.

With access to the extensive Amazon Video collection of films and TV shows (there are 50,000 to choose from!), our UK customers can instantly rent or buy titles such as Game of Thrones Season 5, The Walking Dead Season 5 Taken 3, Minions and Kingsmen: The Secret Service.

Additionally, Amazon Prime members can stream a library of more than 15,000 films and TV programmes, including Amazon exclusive hit shows Transparent, Ripper Street, Outlander, Vikings and MR. ROBOT.

The addition of Amazon Video to the Roku Channel Store that we now offer access to most major streaming services: Netflix, Google Play Movies, Sky Store and NOW TV plus most TV catch-up channels including BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, All 4 and Demand 5. Amazon Video will also be available in Roku Search and your Roku Feed, making it easy to find or follow your favourite movies, TV shows, actors and directors!

The move effectively makes Roku significantly more attractive for those broadband consumers that have moved away from traditional TV subscriptions. However at the time of writing there’s still no confirmation that NOW TV will balance the scales by popping up on Amazon’s own TV Sticks or Fire TV devices, but after today we wouldn’t be surprised if it did.

At the same time it’s worth remembering that Amazon recently made a huge investment to grab the popular Top Gear (BBC) cast for their own rival TV series, which is due to air in the near future. Naturally they’ll want their content to be as widely available as possible, which means settling differences with Roku and Sky.

[lettice]

How daft saying sky own NOW TV, its a product of sky.
Its been early days for all these and they all tried to restrict the content in their early years wars.
But with all the new devices search algorithms now displaying content to the user across all the VOD services, they would now be foolish not to.
Amazon prime certainly has bought in a lot more content and for only £79 is looking very good compared to some of its rivals. Netflix is looking a bit stale now.
You can also buy or rent individual tv series and movies via the app too.
The ex top gear boys will be a big pull and from what I have heard is looking to be a big success before it airs next year.

[cylon6]

Any chance this could end up on a Sky set top box?

[Scubbie]

Any chance this could end up on a Sky set top box?

That would certainly be nice for the viewers. I'm not so sure that Amazon & Sky would be so happy about it though.

[cylon6]

That would certainly be nice for the viewers. I'm not so sure that Amazon & Sky would be so happy about it though.

Virgin Tivo have that through their boxes. Partly thinking they want to keep some viewers through their portal and also because they don't make their own shows like Sky do. However I think if Sky/Netflix/Amazon had some middle ground it could be beneficial to all of them.

But what is the middle ground deal that could work?

[Scubbie]

One potential issue, which might be why it's taken them so long to resolve things, is that Netflix, Amazon and Sky each compete to broadcast/stream content with each other.

Virgin Media used to broadcast their own content but are now seen as someone who resells content from other providers including both BT and Sky.

[reddwarfcrew]

What isn't clear (and doutbful) is that Prime will be available on the NOWTV box itself.

[speedyrite]

What isn't clear (and doutbful) is that Prime will be available on the NOWTV box itself.

I don't think it will be available on the NOW TV box. I'm thinking of getting a ROKU 3 box to replace my old white NOW TV box. From what I've read, in terms of channels available via the ROKU store, the only loss would be the Sky Sports HQ app (which we never use!) but there would be many gains - including Netflix & Amazon.

[reddwarfcrew]

.... and if you are into ripping your cds/dvds then there is PLEX too on the official Roku store.

The Roku 4 is out in the US and should be in the UK soon.

[speedyrite]

.... and if you are into ripping your cds/dvds then there is PLEX too on the official Roku store.

The Roku 4 is out in the US and should be in the UK soon.

Actually, yes - have ripped all the DVDs but into iTunes to watch on tv. I noticed Roku 4 on their website, might hang on for that then.