iWorld
Amazon Prime Video boasts 175mn+ viewers, investment in content & live sports to grow
KOLKATA: Video has emerged to be a key play for the tech giants, especially over the past year. After Google’s YouTube knocked over the industry with astounding ad revenue and viewership in the last quarter, and now, Amazon has also revealed how its streaming service Prime Video has fared in recent times.
In what may sound warning bells for market leader Netflix and upstart Disney+, Prime Video’s viewer base has surpassed 175 million. In a letter to shareholders, Amazon boss Jeff Bezos shared he’s proud to have Prime Video in the family.
“As Prime Video turns 10, over 175 million Prime members have streamed shows and movies in the past year, and streaming hours are up more than 70 per cent year over year. Amazon Studios received a record 12 Academy Award nominations and two wins. Upcoming originals include Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse, The Tomorrow War, The Underground Railroad, and much more,” wrote Bezos.
In mid-April, Bezos revealed that the e-commerce behemoth’s Prime service now has over 200 million subscribers, up 50 million from the beginning of 2020. The service includes fast free shipping, music, video, reading, gaming which is priced at Rs 129 per month, and Rs 999 per year in India.
The numbers are not only talking. Prime Video is making its way into critics’ mind too as it has shined in recent award ceremonies. It earned 12 Academy Award nominations across four films this year; moreover, Sound of Metal won an Oscar in the newly-created sound category.
Interestingly, the OTT is not limiting its video aspirations to original titles and movies but has thrown its hat into the competitive sports content too. “The live sports offering for Prime Video continues to grow internationally,” Bezos said in the letter. Very recently, it became the first streaming service to secure an exclusive national broadcast package from the prestigious NFL. It has ventured into cricket too, the most popular game in India, by acquiring the India territory rights for New Zealand cricket through 2025-2026. It may look at other popular cricket rights in India in the coming year to bolster its sports library.
The company looks at video as a component of broader prime membership. Prime members who watch video have higher free trial conversion rates, higher renewal rates, higher overall engagement, an Amazon spokesperson said in the earnings call.
“There’s great examples of places like Brazil where you launch a video only subscription for example that preceded the broader Prime membership with shipping components and that was as an example a great way to expose people to Amazon. And as we launched a broader Prime in Brazil, it was a great mechanism to get folks into that program,” he added.
The content spend is expected to grow and the investment will go beyond original content to boost the live sports portfolio.
Overall, the e-commerce giant has continued to cash in on our new shop-work-relax-from-home habits in the first three months of this year, reporting a huge rise in sales and a tripling of profits.
Amazon’s overall revenue has gone up by 44 per cent year-on-year basis to reach $108.5 billion revenue. Net income skyrocketed to $8.1 billion compared to the corresponding quarter of 2020, when it stood at $2.5 billion. As online shopping has been one of the businesses to benefit in the ongoing pandemic, the quarterly results show how the digital drive is still fuelling its business.
Net sales are expected to be between $110.0 billion and $116.0 billion for the next quarter, or to grow between 24 per cent and 30 per cent as against the second quarter 2020, the company guided. Operating income is expected to be between $4.5 billion and $8.0 billion. The company will also host its Prime Day event sometime in the second quarter.
iWorld
Prime Video and Hrithik Roshan reunite for quirky heist comedy Mess
HRX Films expands pact with quirky heist comedy set for production
MUMBAI: Prime Video is doubling down on its partnership with Hrithik Roshan, announcing a new comedy film Mess that promises chaos, chuckles and a clever twist on the classic heist.
Produced by Hrithik Roshan and Eshaan Roshan under HRX Films, a division of FilmKraft Productions, the film is being made in association with Soda Films Lab. Directed by Rajesh A Krishnan, Mess marks the second collaboration between the streaming platform and HRX Films after the upcoming thriller Storm.
At the heart of Mess lies an unusual premise. A group of robbers break into the home of a man with OCD, only to find themselves outmatched in a night-long standoff that flips the script on who is really in control. It is a set-up that blends tension with humour, turning a break-in into a breakdown of expectations.
Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok said, “A good story should surprise and entertain, and Mess does both with ease. It brings together a unique premise, memorable characters and a tone that keeps you laughing throughout.”
He added that the collaboration with HRX Films continues to grow stronger, with the new film reflecting a shared appetite for bold and original storytelling.
Hrithik Roshan said, “After Storm, Mess feels like a natural next step in our journey with Prime Video. The film captures the kind of unconventional storytelling we want to champion, with Rajesh bringing a distinctive voice to the narrative.”
Director Rajesh A Krishnan said, “The world of Mess is a mix of comedy and chaos, unusual enough to keep audiences on edge while still delivering humour. It has been a deeply collaborative and creatively fulfilling experience.”
The original screenplay comes from Paul Soter, with adaptation and dialogues by Kapil Sawant, adding another layer of craft to the film’s offbeat narrative.
As production gears up, Mess looks ready to live up to its name, serving up a delightful tangle of mayhem, mischief and movie magic for audiences in India and beyond.
