Amazon To Ban Sale Of Rival Video Streaming Devices
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
NEW YORK (CBSMiami/AP) —Amazon plans to ban the sale of rival video streaming devices like those from Apple and Google on its site.
This comes as the company aims to focus more on its own Prime Instant Video streaming service.
Prime Video has become an important part of Amazon's $99 annual Prime loyalty membership program. The video-streaming devices sold on the site should be able to work with Prime Video, the company said Thursday.
"It's important that the streaming media players we sell interact well with Prime Video in order to avoid customer confusion," the Amazon said.
Along with Amazon's Fire TV, the site will still sell other companies' video-streaming devices that are compatible with Prime Video, including Roku, Xbox and PlayStation. But Apple TV and Google's Chromecast will be not be sold.
Google Inc. and Apple Inc. did not immediately respond to requests for comment
Seattle-based Amazon has been rapidly expanding its Prime Video Service, including recently inked deals to stream NBCUniversal's critically acclaimed drama "Mr. Robot" and a multiyear licensing agreement with CBS.
Amazon.com Inc. shares closed up $8.83, or 1.7 percent, to $520.72 Thursday.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)