Amazon Adds HBO Series to Prime Instant Video

Amazon.com is currently streaming the first wave of HBO shows, including Boardwalk Empire, True Blood, and The Sopranos, via its Prime Instant Video service which requires an Amazon Prime subscription.

HBO and Amazon made an exclusive multi-year deal last month, which analysts estimate cost Amazon $200 to $400 million. Many of HBO’s older series are also available for streaming today, including Flight of the Conchords, The Wire, Six Feet Under, and Deadwood, as well as older miniseries like Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and John Adams. In addition, various original movies like Mary and Martha, Temple Grandin, and You Don’t Know Jack and various comedy specials from Louis CK, Ellen DeGeneres, Lewis Black, and Bill Maher can also be seen on the site.

“We’re thrilled to deliver this collection of groundbreaking, beloved content from HBO to Amazon Prime members for unlimited streaming at no additional cost,” Brad Beale, director of digital video content acquisition for Amazon, stated.

Over the next few years, more current HBO series will become available, like Girls, The Newsroom, and Veep. However, the deal did not include HBO’s new and future shows, meaning True Detective and Silicon Valley will not be seen on Amazon Prime Instant Video under this contract. In addition, HBO did not license Game of Thrones to Amazon. Sex and the City, Entourage, and Curb Your Enthusiasm were also shut out of the deal due to their syndication deals in the U.S.

The HBO Go app will also become available on the Amazon Fire Fire TV later this year under the agreement.