Originally Posted by ovbg:
“This has never been confirmed. Sky do have agreements with ITV, which has created a Sky-only ITV channel called Encore, and Sky have deals with Roku which brought a Now TV box, but where is there evidence for no Amazon Prime on the Roku box because of Sky?
Now, if you were talking the Now TV box, the Sky's rebranded Roku, this would be true, but if Amazon Prime was not on Roku because of Sky, then why is Netflix? Netflix is FAR bigger than Amazon Prime and a much bigger competitor than Amazon, yet it is on the Roku box?
And why isn't Sky Go on the Roku box then?
The main reason comes down to Amazon themselves. They have been trying to encourage people to buy into their own hardware, which is why they didn't even have an Android app until just the other day.”
Netflix was grandfathered in. They were a service on the box (and the main driving force early on for Roku) before Sky invested $12mill in Roku and before NewsCorp invested much more. While its not as simple as taking the US Roku app and launching it in the UK as the platforms while looking the same do have difference behind the scenes BUTits also not a massive task to adapt it so why wouldn't Amazon launch it on Roku. Also why would Roku themselves refuse to comment, for a platform that for so long talked about how open it was as a platform why wouldn't they correct the rumours that show them as Sky's puppets. Its damaging for the brand and image but they ignore it when asked by the media or directly by customers.
And the 'Amazon wants you to buy their hardware' issue always falls down on the fact Amazon hardware is generally sold at cost so they make no money on it and their hardware doesn't get aimed at people who currently have those devices. They largely aim it at customers who wouldn't otherwise buy such a device but who trust Amazon so might be persuade to buy such a device from them. But that's no good for Amazon as they are a service company.
The Android app simply took so long because of Android as a platform. Its so fragmented on so many different fronts that video apps are difficult to get one that meets all the licence holder requirements, displays right and performs well. Its why netflix launched a device at a time and there are still vast number of android devices that aren't supported. If a Amazon were going all in on video rather than what they have been doing and just putting their hat in the ring incase it becomes an area that's would be a major revenue stream rather than a minor one then they would have no doubt launched an app sooner and put up with the marketing issues when you have to explain why only select Android devices are supported. It seems now they have decided they need some presence on Android so have found a middle ground which isn't the specialised app on all other platforms but makes it possible to watch videos. I would be surprised if this is what they want long term though