Amazon Prime Video Canada (launch expected Dec 1)

[HotHotHeat]

No confirmation yet, though Bell thinks it's happening today.

Netflix and Bell's CraveTV could face a powerful new competitor in Canada as soon as Thursday, when Amazon.com launches its Amazon Prime video streaming service, according to comments made at a CRTC hearing earlier this week.

In her opening statement to the telecom regulator on Tuesday, Bell Media president Mary Ann Turcke said "a new global OTT competitor — Amazon Prime — is entering the Canadian market in two days."

At Tuesday's hearing on the renewal of TV broadcasting licences, Turcke spoke about the challenge Bell Media faces from over-the-top competitors like Netflix and Amazon, describing them as "formidable competition."

"So it's not just our fellow Canadian broadcasters who will try to outbid us for first-run, original programming, but it's Netflix and now Amazon, two entities that are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as us and that have astronomically more buying power than we do," said Turcke, according to a copy of her presentation posted on the CRTC website.

In her presentation, Turcke described "a world where Netflix (or another global OTT player) acquires the majority of the top prime time network television shows."

In such a world, said Turcke, the worst-case scenario for the Canadian broadcasting industry is one "where Canadians decide they don't need any TV subscription at all because the best of prime-time television is dropped day and date on Netflix."

"We must have as much flexibility as possible and have parity with other regulated entities," said Turcke.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/amaz...nada-1.3874326

As for the bolded text... I can't wait.

[photon]

The big question will be what will its content be like?

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by photon

The big question will be what will its content be like?

Agreed, the selection is fantastic in the states and I am hoping that they can leverage the companies size and buying power to extend that here.

[btimbit]

Awesome.

[MoneyGuy]

Now maybe I can get the Man in the High Castle.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Diemenz

Agreed, the selection is fantastic in the states and I am hoping that they can leverage the companies size and buying power to extend that here.

Much like with Netflix, it will ultimately depend on who owns the Canadian distribution rights to any third party content Amazon provides in the US.

[McG]

I would just ask that as soon as someone sees the first link to availability, that we post it in this thread. I'm definitely interested.

[BananaPancakes]

Is this something that is usually included in your Amazon Prime account? With the addition of Twitch Prime and now this, I might consider signing up.

[jeffporfirio]

I think Bell might have over-reacted in order to get pity from the CRTC (although I hope not).
I have been scanning the news on google and any changes in my Prime account and nothing.
Again, I hope it's true.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by BananaPancakes

Is this something that is usually included in your Amazon Prime account? With the addition of Twitch Prime and now this, I might consider signing up.

In the US it is for now.

[Hack&Lube]

"the worst-case scenario for the Canadian broadcasting industry is one "where Canadians decide they don't need any TV subscription at all because the best of prime-time television is dropped day and date on Netflix"

The dinosaurs all died eventually. You have to adapt to the market and globalization, not cry to the CRTC to give you breaks.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by jeffporfirio

I think Bell might have over-reacted in order to get pity from the CRTC (although I hope not).
I have been scanning the news on google and any changes in my Prime account and nothing.
Again, I hope it's true.

####ing Bell. They can go die a horrible ####ing death.

[Bill Bumface]

So I can't go home and watch The Grand Tour?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

So I can't go home and watch The Grand Tour?

To be fair The Grand Tour kind of sucks so far. I was hugely disappointed. "The American" is a terrible replacement for "The Stig"

[fundmark19]

I'm just happy about having Amazon fire tv being available. If they are launching in Canada that should also mean they will get an NHL gamecenter app which would make me happy since the kodi one is only ok

[Pellanor]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

To be fair The Grand Tour kind of sucks so far. I was hugely disappointed. "The American" is a terrible replacement for "The Stig"

Yeah, but outside of him and the celebrity bit the show has been solid. The production value is great, they just need to work on the content a bit. I feel they tried to stick to the old formula a bit too much, and weren't quite sure what to do with the trademarked bits. I'd rather they drop all that and make each episode more of a big special.

[EldrickOnIce]

I keep trying to see if Prime Video is available on my fire sticks. Been reading that playing while abroad titles hould work now, but it does not.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

"the worst-case scenario for the Canadian broadcasting industry is one "where Canadians decide they don't need any TV subscription at all because the best of prime-time television is dropped day and date on Netflix"

The dinosaurs all died eventually. You have to adapt to the market and globalization, not cry to the CRTC to give you breaks.

Overall the whining to the CRTC is less about breaks and more about letting the market decide conditions.

Instead of the CRTC regulating the crap out of the telecommunications industry.

Issue that Bell has is that people like Netflix and Amazon prime don't have to follow the same regulations that get placed on cable cos.

[Jimmy Stang]

So this didn't launch yet, obviously. What are the latest rumours?

I have often been on the fence about Prime. It would be very handy at times, but I don't order quite enough from Amazon justify it. Usually the free delivery gets it to me in less than week, which isn't terrible.

Throw in Prime Video, on the other hand, and my ears have perked up a little. Having Prime would probably induce some demand for my shopping as well, which further justifies it.

[CubicleGeek]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Overall the whining to the CRTC is less about breaks and more about letting the market decide conditions.

Instead of the CRTC regulating the crap out of the telecommunications industry.

Issue that Bell has is that people like Netflix and Amazon prime don't have to follow the same regulations that get placed on cable cos.

Yah the Canadian government really needs to either make all foreign content providers follow the same rules as Canadian companies or remove those rules altogether for everyone. Right now those foreign OTT providers:

• Don't put a percentage of their revenues towards creation of Canadian programming.
• Aren't obligated to have a ratio of Canadian programming in their library.
• Don't collect or remit taxes to the Canadian government. (If you haven't noticed, you don't pay GST/HST on your Netflix subscription)