In a clear effort to challenge YouTube, Amazon introduced Amazon Video Direct (AVD) today, a new self-service program for video creators to make their video content available to Amazon customers and share in some of the ensuing revenue.
Video providers can distribute their content directly to Prime members and earn royalties based on minutes streamed, according to Amazon. Additionally, video providers can choose to make their titles available in any country where Amazon Video is available, including the U.S., Germany, Austria, the U.K. and Japan; with support for all the devices Amazon Video is available on. That includes Fire TV, Fire and other iOS and Android tablets, connected TVs, game consoles, iOS and Android phones and laptops.
On the performance metrics side, video providers are given information such as number of minutes a title was streamed, projected revenue, payment history or number of subscribers. Video providers reportedly have full control and the flexibility to make changes based on these metrics.
“It’s an amazing time to be a content creator,” Jim Freeman, VP of Amazon Video, says. “There are more options for distribution than ever before and with Amazon Video Direct, for the first time, there’s a self-service option for video providers to get their content into a premium streaming subscription service.”