Amazon today added its first set of HBO content to Prime Instant Video, bringing shows like The Sopranos and The Wire to its streaming service.
It’s the first bunch of HBO programming coming to Amazon and is the result of a new partnership with the cable giant that was announced last month. The deal, which Amazon likely paid more than $200 million for, marks the first time HBO has licensed content to an online-only subscription streaming service.
Bringing HBO content to Prime Instant Video is a key move in Amazon’s attempt to differentiate its streaming video service from Netflix and other competitors. It’s also an extra incentive for Amazon Prime members to stick with the subscription service despite a recent price hike from $79/year to $99/year.
Here’s a rundown of what was added today, via Amazon:
- All seasons of The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Rome and Six Feet Under, Eastbound & Down, Enlightened and Flight of the Conchords.
- Select seasons of True Blood, Boardwalk Empire and Treme.
- Miniseries like Band of Brothers, The Pacific, John Adams, Parade’s End and Angels in America.
- Original movies like Mary and Martha, Temple Grandin and You Don’t Know Jack.
- Comedy specials from Louis CK, Ellen DeGeneres, Lewis Black and Bill Maher.
- Documentaries including When the Levees Broke, Ghosts of Abu Ghraib and the Autopsy and Iceman series.
Other shows, like Girls, Veep and The Newsroom will arrive on Prime Instant Video over the next couple of years. New and future shows like True Detective and Silicon Valley won’t be available, though, with the current deal.
Amazon also noted that the HBO Go app will be available on its Fire TV device later this year.
