Amazon launches new Video Direct

Amazon is  launching Amazon Video Direct by expanding its streaming services to allow users to upload and distribute their own videos, giving aspiring film makers and companies that produce video an opportunity to generate new revenue stream for their content, either by making it available to rent or buy or to watch for free supported by commercials. For each title, you can choose to earn royalties based on hours streamed by Prime members, a revenue share for rentals, purchases, monthly subscriptions, or ad impressions—or any combination of these options.

This latest move puts Amazon into direct competition with YouTube, the Google-owned site which is the world’s largest video service.

Both Amazon and Netflix are in head to head battle to capture television audiences that are moving away from so-called linear television in favour of digitally streamed on-demand viewing, as both have invested mega sums to produce license new content. Netflix spend £4.14bn ($6bn in 2016 for series like Narcos, Daredevil, Making a murderer, and Amazon spent over £2.07 bn ( $3 bn) last year on movies.  The new trend is to watch movies on mobile devices than any broadcast or cable television network. Netflix announced their  first quarter new subscribers figures in excess of 6. 74 m with 4.6 m from outside US.

The new Amazon video service is aimed at Independent video producers and companies that might want to monetise their work and to reach broader audience.

Viewers can rent and buy content or watch it for free with adverts. An ad-free version is offered to Amazon Prime subscription members in US, UK Germany, Austria, Japan.

Vimeo, Vine, Funny, Dir or Ted  website have been successful by attacking the niche market.