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Starts bundling Starz, Showtime with Amazon Prime's video service
Showing signs that it's interested in becoming a "virtual" multichannel video programming distributor, Amazon last week unveiled a new program that bundles in over-the-top pay services, including access to Starz and Showtime, on top of its base Amazon Prime subscription.
Amazon, which had been rumored to be discussing live-TV deals for months, now offers a slate of add-ons through a new Streaming Partners Program. Under that program, Amazon handles several key elements to get services rapidly spooled up with Prime, including subscriber acquisition, customer service, content delivery and device management.
Early on, the offering will feature dozens of add-on subscription services, including Acorn TV, Comedy Central Stand-Up Plus, Lifetime Movie Club, AMC's Shudder and...