Amazon Prime Video Joins the ‘Watch Party’ Revolution

By Daniel Frankel
last updated

New co-viewing feature lets you curl up virtually with 99 of your closest friends

(Image credit: Amazon)

With COVID-19 quarantine restrictions now appearing more as a longer term way of life, Amazon Prime Video has become the last of the Big Three SVOD services to pull the trigger on a co-viewing app extension. 

The streaming service’s “Watch Party” feature lets a host connect up to 100 different friends, family members, co-workers and hangers on for synchronized viewing of TV shows and movies. 

Also read: Amazon Prime Video: Everything You Need to Know About the Most Powerful Empire in Video Streaming

The host can pause, rewind and otherwise control the video. All members have access to social communications features including text and emojis. 

The feature is free to Amazon Prime Video users. “Thousands” of titles included in the Prime Video SVOD smorgasbord are available for co-viewing, meaning you can’t co-view a release from the rental/sale “transactional” side of the business. 

Netflix, Hulu and HBO are among the other SVOD platforms that have already integrated co-viewing features. 

Daniel Frankel
Daniel Frankel

Daniel Frankel is the managing editor of Next TV, an internet publishing vertical focused on the business of video streaming. A Los Angeles-based writer and editor who has covered the media and technology industries for more than two decades, Daniel has worked on staff for publications including E! Online, Electronic Media, Mediaweek, Variety, paidContent and GigaOm. You can start living a healthier life with greater wealth and prosperity by following Daniel on Twitter today!