Amazon Offers Animators A New Way to Make Money from Online Video
In a major development for independent content creators, Amazon is inviting all creators to post videos to its Amazon Video service and earn royalties based on hours streamed. The service went live today.
Amazon Video Direct (AVD) is a self-service platform that puts the e-commerce giant in direct competition with video sites like Youtube and Vimeo. AVD makes video content available for free to all Amazon Prime members, who number in the “tens of millions”, and pays creators based on the amount of time the content is streamed.
In addition to streaming, AVD provides other options to creators: content can be made available to rent or own, viewable for free with advertisements, or packaged together and offered as an add-on subscription (through the Streaming Partners program).
“It’s an amazing time to be a content creator,” said Jim Freeman, vice president of Amazon Video, in a a press release. “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.”
Launching alongside this new system is the AVD Stars Program, which will distribute $1 million every month among the 100 most popular AVD titles in Prime Video. The monthly bonus is in addition to any other revenue earned through the program, and everyone who uses AVD is automatically enrolled to participate.
AVD launch partners include a mix of both established media brands and online media producers, among them Conde Nast Entertainment, HowStuffWorks, Samuel Goldwyn Films, The Guardian, Mashable, Mattel, StyleHaul, Kin Community, Jash, Business Insider, Machinima, TYT Network, Baby Einstein, CJ Entertainment America, Xive TV, Synergetic Distribution, Kino Nation, Journeyman Pictures, and Pro Guitar Lessons.
Creators who want more information on signing up for Amazon Video Direct can visit Amazon’s website.