Amazon Video On Demand Begins Offering HD Movies and TV Episodes

Amazon.com announced Tuesday that it is now offering HD versions of current TV shows and movies on its Amazon Video On Demand service. At launch, around 500 HD programs and movies (programs include "Californication," "The Tudors," "Smallville" and "Gossip Girl" and movies include "Frost/Nixon," "Twilight," and "Yes Man") are available on the service, from such content providers as Warner Bros. Entertainment, Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, MGM Studios, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Showtime Networks.

Amazon.com is ensuring that its new HDTV line-up can be accessed on a number of over-the-top-TV devices (in addition to PC's and Macs). According to the company, consumers can order and watch its HD titles on the Roku digital video player; TiVo's Series3, HD and HD XL DVR's (note: TiVo says that its TiVo Search service, which is optimized for HDTV's with a wide-screen display, will now include HD results from Amazon.com, alongside information on broadcast and cable programming), and the Sony Bravia Internet Video Link. In addition, the company says, its entire library of 40,000 Amazon Video On Demand titles is now also available on Panasonic's Viera Cast-enabled HDTV sets. HD movies are available for rental, priced from $3.99 to $4.99, while HD episodes of current-season TV shows are available for purchase for $2.99. "Panasonic is thrilled to be working with Amazon's Video On Demand service, an association we see as another step in providing the ultimate entertainment experience for the consumer," Merwan Mereby, Panasonic's VP of new business development, said in a prepared statement. "Both Panasonic and Amazon are extremely consumer-centric and this functionality will provide the consumer with a myriad of entertainment choices. It's fitting that Panasonic and Amazon have joined creative forces to create this unique entertainment vehicle. Panasonic's Viera Cast HDTV's have garnered numerous best of awards, while Amazon is a pioneer in transforming in-home movie entertainment. The consumer will have access to a vast selection of movie and TV entertainment at their finger tips with just a click of a button." Added Roku's VP of consumer products, Tim Twerdahl: "The addition of Amazon's HD offerings to the Roku digital video player is a tremendous enhancement for our customers. Amazon's vast selection of high-quality content is the perfect complement to Roku's instant delivery of top movies and TV shows directly to the TV. The combination of Amazon Video On Demand and the $99 Roku player is an incredible value to customers."