Amazon trying to launch TV, movie subscriber service: WSJ

(Yuri Arcurs)

Amazon is seeking to launch a service that would give paying subscribers unlimited access to television shows and movies over the Internet, The Wall Street Journal said Tuesday.

The newspaper, citing "people with knowledge of the proposal," said the move is a bid by Amazon to take on movie service Netflix and grab a bigger slice of the online TV business.

It said the Seattle-based company has proposed the Web-based subscription service to several major media companies including NBC Universal, Time Warner and Viacom among others.

The Journal said Amazon would like to launch its new video service in time for the holiday season, "but it is unclear if any media company intends to participate."

It said the plan could could be delayed or shelved if not enough companies sign on.

The service would be viewable on the Internet or through devices such as Web-connected TVs or Xbox 360 videogame consoles that play television shows and movies Amazon already sells on an individual basis, the newspaper said.

Like Apple's iTunes, Amazon currently offers TV shows for 1.99 dollars per episode.

The Journal said subscriptions could be bundled with the Amazon Prime service that gives offers free shipping on purchases.

It said spokesmen for Amazon, NBC Universal, Time Warner and Viacom declined to comment on the proposed service.

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