Amazon Unbox Offers Thousands of DVD-Quality Picture TV Shows,
Movies and Other Videos From Around the World; Unbox
RemoteLoadTM Technology Allows Customers to Buy From One PC
and Download to Another; "Star Trek," VH1 Make Digital
Download-to-Own Debut
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2006--Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN): Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) today announced the launch of Amazon
UnboxTM, a new digital video download service offering customers
thousands of television shows, movies and other video content from
more than 30 studio and network partners from Hollywood and around the
world. Unbox is the only video download service to offer DVD-quality
picture. In addition, Unbox RemoteLoadTM technology allows customers
to buy from one PC (such as an office computer) and download to
another (such as a home computer). Customers can visit
www.amazon.com/unbox to try the Unbox service with a free TV show.
Unbox offers triple the video quality of the leading commercial
Internet video services, delivering content encoded at 2,500 kilobits
per second using the ultra-efficient VC-1 Advanced Profile codec. At
no additional charge, Unbox also automatically includes a second file
optimized for playback on any Windows Media-compatible portable
device. In addition, Unbox uses progressive download, eliminating the
need to wait for the entire video to download before watching. This
means the typical cable broadband customer can start watching any
Unbox TV show or movie within five minutes of ordering.
"Amazon Unbox offers TV and movie enthusiasts a fast, convenient
way to watch thousands of their favorite videos from around the
world," said Bill Carr, Amazon.com's vice president of digital media.
"Now Amazon.com customers can choose to get videos delivered to their
doorstep from Amazon's DVD store or choose Amazon Unbox and download
DVD-quality picture movies or television shows to their PC."
Unbox RemoteLoad technology offers customers the convenience of
shopping for Unbox videos on Amazon.com from any Internet-connected PC
-- like their PC at the office -- and download their videos to that PC
or any other connected PC -- like their PC at home. Plus, customers
get the added flexibility of taking their video collection on the go
using any Windows Media video-compatible portable device, including
the popular Creative Zen Vision:M.
"Amazon has built the ultimate solution for anyone who has ever
had a friend or coworker tell them that they missed a great TV show
last night," said Carr. "Now customers can visit Amazon.com while at
work and download DVD-quality TV shows and movies to their PC at home
or wherever it is most convenient for them to watch."
Amazon Unbox customers will be able to access their videos in the
Amazon Your Media Library, a personalized Web page that indexes and
organizes their media purchases from Amazon.com, including books, CDs,
DVDs and Unbox Videos. Your Media Library provides each Unbox customer
a place to keep track of their Unbox video purchases, and even
download them to an additional PC.
Amazon Unbox customers can download episodes of their favorite
television shows that aired as recently as last night or favorites
from decades past. Unbox offers current hits from top networks like
CBS with "CSI" and "Numb3rs" and FOX with "24" and "Prison Break" as
well as classics like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Firefly" and "Star
Trek." Unbox also offers a broad selection of popular shows from cable
networks such as A&E, Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, FX and
several channels from MTV Networks, including Comedy Central,
Nickelodeon, MTV and VH1. From September 14th through September 27th,
all of the final, cliffhanger episodes from last season's "CSI," "CSI:
Miami" and "CSI:NY" will be available for $0.01 to celebrate CSI Week
and the launch of the season for all three "CSI" series.
Several television series and films will make their digital
download debut with Amazon Unbox, including all 79 episodes of the
original "Star Trek" series (plus the pre-Shatner original pilot),
many anime series including "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED." HGTV, FINE
LIVING TV Network and VH1 are three networks making their digital
download debut, offering titles such as "Design on a Dime," "America's
Dream 18" and "Breaking Bonaduce," respectively.
Movies available on Unbox include new releases such as "V for
Vendetta," "Inside Man," "Failure to Launch," "RV" and "Walk the Line"
as well as numerous classics like "Ben Hur," "Chinatown" and "Poseidon
Adventure" from top studios including 20th Century Fox, Paramount
Pictures, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros.
Entertainment and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc. Unbox will also
have independent films from studios such as Focus Features, Fox
Searchlight and Lionsgate, including "Akeelah and the Bee," "Brokeback
Mountain" and "Friends With Money."
Amazon Unbox also offers a broad selection of international
television shows and films from the UK, Korea, Hong Kong and Japan.
These include the epic Korean period drama "The Immortal Admiral Yi
Sun-shin"; the popular BBC comedy "Coupling"; Hong Kong's "Hand of
Death," directed by John Woo starring Jackie Chan; and Japan's
"Escaflowne."
Unbox customers can purchase television series episodes for $1.99
per episode, purchase most movies for between $7.99 and $14.99, or
rent the latest movies for $3.99. To learn more about Amazon Unbox and
to download your first television show free of charge, visit
www.amazon.com/unbox.
Participating Television Networks
A&E, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, BBC, The Biography Channel,
Cartoon Network, CBS, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, Discovery
Health Channel, Discovery Kids, E! Entertainment Television, FINE
LIVING TV Network, FOX, Fuel TV, FX, HGTV, The History Channel, KBS
(Korean Broadcast System), Logo, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, The
N, PBS, Speed, Spike, Travel Channel, TV Land and VH1.
Participating Movie Studios
20th Century Fox, Paramount, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment,
Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Lionsgate and
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc.
Unbox Partner Quotes
CBS
"With its broad and extensive user base, impressive marketing
capabilities and the Unbox technology, Amazon.com is uniquely
positioned as a programming platform in the online world, and we're
excited to be one of their charter content providers," said Larry
Kramer, President, CBS Digital Media. "The site is a perfect vehicle
to further extend the reach of our Network brand and create more
opportunities for audiences to discover current and classic CBS
programming."
Fox Entertainment Group
"We expect the convenience of Amazon's Unbox to be a catalyst in
expanding the reach of our digital offerings," said Peter Levinsohn,
President, Fox Digital Media. "Amazon has made a name for itself as
having the biggest selection of physical goods online. We are happy to
be a part of its effort to realize this same goal in digital content."
MTV Networks
"VH1 has chosen Amazon Unbox for our download-to-own premiere of
select shows because it offers viewers a flexible and high-quality way
to enjoy their favorite programs -- the very qualities our
30-something viewers find important," said Tom Calderone, executive
vice president and general manager, VH1. "We are excited to join the
other MTV Networks' brands in this launch, and to extend VH1's hit
shows to yet another platform."
Paramount
"Amazon is one of the great trusted brands in the digital space
with an excellent track record of building direct consumer
relationships via the Internet," said Thomas Lesinski, President,
Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment. "We are very excited about
Amazon's new Unbox service, which will provide consumers with a
convenient high-quality option for downloading movies directly to
their computers."
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
"This agreement with Amazon is very exciting for Sony Pictures
Home Entertainment. It represents the first time one of our
established customers has embraced digital distribution," noted
Benjamin S. Feingold, Worldwide President of Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment, Digital Distribution and Acquisitions. "Sony and Amazon
share the goal of delivering outstanding entertainment to consumers
whenever they want it, on whatever platform they choose to experience
it and in the most efficient manner possible, and we are delighted to
partner with Amazon in fulfilling this mission."
Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE)
"We are pleased to partner with Amazon on this exciting venture,
which offers a convenient and flexible alternative for purchasing and
enjoying Universal films," said Craig Kornblau, President, Universal
Studios Home Entertainment. "Consistent with NBC Universal's strategy
for ubiquitous content distribution, we are very excited to align with
Amazon, a top-tier partner that is on the forefront of a unique new
electronic sell-through technology to deliver our entertainment
product: The Unbox Experience."
Warner Bros. Entertainment
"Warner Bros. digital distribution strategy is to provide
consumers with access to our world-class entertainment through as many
platforms, devices and channels possible," said Simon Kenny,
President, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. "Amazon is the
Internet's leading online retailer, and our customers are already
comfortable acquiring entertainment from the website. Unbox is a
natural extension of this and a good fit for Warner Bros."
MGM
"Delivering on our strategy of distributing MGM movies and
television series on robust new digital platforms, we are very pleased
to be able to offer MGM programming to the launch of Amazon's Unbox
service and hope to include additional product in the weeks to come as
the service undoubtedly flourishes," said Douglas A. Lee, Executive
Vice President, Worldwide Digital Media at MGM. "We are thrilled to
extend our partnership with Amazon as it introduces its millions of
users to its new service, and welcome them to receiving new ways of
obtaining MGM's extraordinary library of films and television," he
said.
About Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc., (Nasdaq:AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in
Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers
Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com seeks to be Earth's most
customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover
anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its
customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers
offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories
such as health and personal care, jewelry and watches, gourmet food,
sports and outdoors, apparel and accessories, books, music, DVDs,
electronics and office, toys and baby, and home and garden.
Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp,
www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, and www.joyo.com.
As used herein, "Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms
include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context
indicates otherwise.
Forward Looking Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ
significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others,
risks related to competition, management of growth, potential
fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes
of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization,
seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic
transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, significant
amount of indebtedness, inventory, limited operating history,
government regulation and taxation, payments, fraud, consumer trends,
and new business areas. More information about factors that
potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in
Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2005, and all subsequent filings.
CONTACT: Amazon.com Media Relations
Sean Sundwall, 206-266-4322
sundwall@amazon.com
SOURCE: Amazon.com
