(Photo source: Amazon Video Direct)

Tech Report

By: Nick Gambino

Amazon has just launched a new video service, Amazon Video Direct, where those with an Amazon account can upload original content or any video they own the rights to.

If this sounds familiar, maybe a little or a lot like YouTube, that’s because it is. Users can use this platform to get their content out there. And with over 300 million active Amazon account holders and tens of millions of Prime members, this is prime (pun) territory for lots of exposure.

The ability to monetize your content is going to be a huge draw. According to Variety, users can select whether they want their content to be free with ad support and receive 55% of its ad revenue; available to own or rent; sold as a subscription through the Streaming Partners Program; or as part of the $99 Amazon Prime Video model where they would receive a royalty (15 cents per hour) based upon hours viewed.

Content creators will have access to useful metrics to see how their videos are faring. They’ll be able to see how many minutes their video was streamed, payment history, projected revenue and number of subscribers.

“It’s an amazing time to be a content creator,” explained Jim Freeman, VP of Amazon Video, in a statement upon launch. “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. We’re excited to make it even easier for content creators to find an audience, and for that audience to find great content.”

Along with the launch of AVD (they’ve already started with the abbreviations), Amazon is also launching a cool promotion they’re calling AVD Stars.

Every month the top 100 AVD titles on Prime Video will receive $1 million distributed amongst them. Divided evenly that’s $10,000 and is on top of what they would make from monetizing their videos. Users of AVD will automatically being enrolled in this promotion.

While AVD seems like a direct competitor to YouTube it seems they have their eyes set on larger video creators as they’ve announced some of the names who’ve already signed on: Samuel Goldwyn Films, HowStuffWorks, The Guardian, Business Insider, Mashable and others.

So don’t expect your kid’s piano recital to make much of a dent on Amazon Direct Video unless of course your kid’s Taylor Swift.

Do you think YouTube should be worried about their newest competitor? Comment below or join the conversation on Twitter!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nick Gambino is a regular script writer and tech beat reporter for NewsWatch. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and daughter.

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