Amazon TV: Retail Giant Gets Into Original Programming With New Comedy And Kids' Shows On The Way

Amazon is looking to add some new shows to its streaming video library -- specifically, yours.

The online e-commerce giant with the burgeoning Instant Video site has announced a major initiative from its Amazon Studios wing: Starting now, Amazon is accepting ideas for TV shows from anybody who has a pilot script, an idea for five or six episodes, and an Internet connection. Amazon says that it wil be selecting one idea per month to put into development. If it passes muster and Amazon decides to produce a full slate of shows, the creator will be given $55,000, up to five percent on sales of licensed merchandise, and "other royalties and bonuses," per a press release from Amazon.

The site is right here and you can upload your work right now. Amazon is looking, specifically, for comedies and kids' shows; if you are submitting either, you need to have a completed pilot script in order to be considered.

Though not known for its online video, Amazon does have a rather large selection of streaming TV shows and movies for members of its Amazon Prime subscription service. (Amazon says it has 17,000 titles, though that number has been dismissed as hyperbolic, counting individual episodes of television shows).

Amazon views its Instant Video as a competitor to more well-established services like Netflix and Hulu, both of which are easing into original programming. On both of those sites, however, the original programming is coming from established producers, writers and directors -- for example, the David Fincher-Kevin Spacey drama "House of Cards" on Netflix and the J.D. Walsh ("Two and a Half Men")-created "Battleground" on Hulu.

Amazon is taking a different path, at least in part, openly soliciting material from anyone and everyone. The little-known Studios section of its website already accepts pitches and scripts for movies from would-be writers and producers and exists as a sort of supportive community for striving filmmakers and screenwriters; now Amazon is leveraging that community into possible content for television shows its Instant Video section. Amazon boasted in a press release that it was already developing 15 movie ideas that had been submitted through Amazon Studios; television, then, is a logical next step.

So, if you have an idea for a comedy or kids' show, you could get some recognition through Amazon's Instant Video. If you're ready to strut your stuff, you can click over to Amazon to submit your idea.

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Comments

[Php Flow]

10:00 AM on 05/20/2012

nice, i might watch.

http://phpflow.com/

[VapeGirl]

04:01 PM on 05/03/2012

Bring back shows that were canceled early. Shows like Firefly, Stargate Universe, or other sci-fi based shows, or maybe even a new show based on the EVE Online Universe. We need more sci-fi shows - good ones!

[eric14]

01:25 PM on 05/04/2012

I think Stargate Universe was held back by franchise control. The stones kept them in touch with the characters. If they had made a complete break into a new universe, no going back, no contact at all, maybe it would have got a bigger audience and another series.

Firefly was so good. What more to say?

[brandon20678]

11:08 AM on 05/03/2012

This is good for Amazon.com and I might watch.

[flashfyre]

03:31 AM on 05/03/2012

Talk to Paramount and make a deal to finish up the Star Trek New Voyages series.

Or maybe fund something by J. Michael Straczynski.

[Eyeful]

02:25 AM on 05/03/2012

Crowdsourcing for content because they refuse to pay for talent. Good luck with this.

[crablover]

10:12 AM on 05/03/2012

No wonder creative people can't find work. The producers are outsourcing the creative process to the audience!

[Eyeful]

02:57 PM on 05/03/2012

Rest assured they will be in full control of the creative process. They want to avoid intellectual property rights and the royalty payments that come with negotiating a "hit" show.

[Zilo]

10:07 PM on 05/02/2012

This is a terrific business idea. I was just discussing this with someone the other day. Why can't Hollywood pick winners? Why do so many of their movies turn out so badly and flop?

Amazon is very, very smart to take this approach. I'm very impressed.

[crablover]

10:12 AM on 05/03/2012

I guess you don't depend on being creative to make a living.

[Zilo]

11:37 AM on 05/03/2012

Actually, I partly do. :) Why?

[authorized-user]

08:36 PM on 05/02/2012

Ok, here's a concept for a new reality show;
It's based on political candidates and we watch their campaign unfold.

I'll call it, THE BIGGEST LIAR

[jsgaetano]

01:43 AM on 05/03/2012

First episode: the GOP primary season.

[ILoveGreatDanes]

08:10 PM on 05/02/2012

I'm quite p.i.s.s.e.d at Amazon right now. I purchased their Prime Membership mostly to watch the complimentary movies that were included with the free two day shipping on purchases. Although the selection wasn't the greatest, I loved their free Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes they had to stream, something Netflix didn't have. Then suddenly they started charging $3.99/ episode rental fees for all those, and that was all I watched. Now Amazon is going to start charging TX residents (my state) sales tax on all purchases starting in July of 8.25%. Avoiding tax is a lot of the reason I buy so much stuff online to begin with. Goodbye Amazon, hello ebay.

[crablover]

10:13 AM on 05/03/2012

Admitting that you're dodging the state sales tax is not a smart move, even in Texas.

[ILoveGreatDanes]

11:07 AM on 05/03/2012

It's not illegal, and I've saving money. It's quite smart. I pay thousands of dollars in state taxes every year, even without my online shopping.