Amazon Signs Content Licensing Deal With CBS for Three New Shows

The deal will allow the shows, including comic-thriller BrainDead, to be available only on Prime video service for the next three years, the companies said in a joint statement on Thursday..

Amazon Prime members in the United States will have unlimited access to Mary Elizabeth Winstead-starrer BrainDead four days after broadcast without any extra cost.

The internet retailer has been investing heavily in digital media, hoping to draw traffic and drive sales as consumers increasingly spurn traditional TV offerings in favour of on-demand content.

Amazon's video streaming service serves up thousands of movies and TV programs in competition with Netflix Inc and Hulu.

The company said earlier this year it was also aiming to produce close to 12 movies a year for theatrical release which would then be available on its Prime video service.

As part of the deal announced on Thursday, the companies also extended and expanded the CBS and Showtime titles for Prime members.

Amazon earlier this month said it will stop allowing the sale of Google and Apple video-streaming devices on its site as it focuses on its own Prime Instant Video streaming service.

Prime Video has become an important part of Amazon's $99 annual Prime loyalty membership program. The video-streaming devices sold on the site should be able to work with Prime Video, the company said. "It's important that the streaming media players we sell interact well with Prime Video in order to avoid customer confusion," Amazon said.

Written with agency inputs