The digital video streaming wars are heating up again just as we close off a turbulent 2016 with Amazon Prime Video now officially available to Singapore.
We started off the year with the much anticipated launch of Netflix, forever changing how we view content on our screens. Now here we are at the end of 2016 with another shocker.
Amazon Prime Video Comes To Town
Yesterday evening it was made known that Amazon Prime’s video streaming service has been made live in over 200 countries, and Singapore is among them!
But unlike in other countries, even if you are an existing Amazon Prime shopper in Singapore, you do not get free access to their video streaming site.
Amazon instead is offering a six month, introductory subscription price of US$2.99 (~S$4.25) to everyone.
We’re not sure how long this offer will last, but the regular subscription price is stated as US$5.99 (~S$8.52). This will kick in from the seventh month.
Of course, you can still get a free full experience before committing to any subscription plan with their Prime Video 7-day trial.
Access to Prime Video is simple. You can get it either via your browser at PrimeVideo.com, with their iOS and Android apps, as well as on popular LG and Samsung Smart TVs.
You don’t have to worry about bursting your data plans while watching videos on the go either.
Amazon Prime Video’s state of the art video compression technology helps reduce data usage without reducing visual quality. Furthermore you’ll be able to switch between ‘Good’, ‘Better’ and ‘Best’ visual quality settings.
Here’s What You Will Gain Access To
So what does a Prime Video account entitle you to? Well, first and foremost is probably the the top-rated TV show on IMDb today, The Grand Tour.
Hosted by ex-Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, the show’s first episode became the biggest show premiere ever on Prime Video, and for good reason.
With the headliner out of the way, expect your favourite films and TV shows out of Hollywood to adorn your screens alongside multi-award winning and acclaimed Amazon Original Series.
These include Transparent, Mozart in the Jungle, and The Man in the High Castle, one of the most-streamed Amazon Original Series ever globally. Other shows of note are Woody Allen’s Crisis in Six Scenes, David E. Kelley’s Goliath, the docu-series American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story, and Sneaky Pete.
Kids will not be left out either as they will be able to access multiple Amazon Original Kids Series titles such as Creative Galaxy, Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street, and Emmy Award-winning animated series, Tumble Leaf.
The Start Of Amazon Fever In Singapore?
This news come at a time when Netflix has already firmly established itself in the homes of Singaporeans, while local telco Singtel recently launched their HOOQ video streaming service aimed at more localised content.
Amazon on the other hand, will take time to ingrain itself into our living rooms and devices, but we have a feeling that it won’t take them long.
While this was a major global release, we can’t help but wonder that with their impending arrival edging ever closer, the launch of Prime Video might just be a prelude to something greater for us.
