Scripps Networks became one of the first content providers to be included in the new Amazon.com digital-video-download service, Unbox (www.amazon.com/unbox), which launched last week, officials said Monday.
The programmer and Web site reached an agreement that will allow Amazon.com shoppers to access select Scripps Networks shows on Amazon.com and download the shows to own.
Amazon Unbox launched with more than 200 titles from Home & Garden Television and Fine Living, with extra titles added regularly, including Designed to Sell, House Hunters, I Want That!, Design on a Dime, America’s Dream 18 and Around the World in 80 Homes.
In the future, entire libraries of select shows will be available for download to own. Programming from DIY Network will be available shortly after launch.
"We believe this is a landmark agreement in terms of how viewers access our content,” Scripps Networks president John Lansing said in a prepared statement. "This is a positive extension of our brands with an established and well-respected Fortune 500 company.”
As part of the download-to-own agreement, consumers are able to buy Scripps shows on Amazon Unbox and copy them to Windows Media-compatible portable video players such as Creative's Zen Vision: M.
Amazon Unbox also allows customers to store their purchased videos on their personalized Your Media Library pages on Amazon.com.
"Amazon is excited to be the first to offer customers DVD-quality content from HGTV and Fine Living in a downloadable format that offers enthusiasts a convenient new way to watch their favorite TV shows,” Amazon.com vice president of digital media Bill Carr said in a prepared statement. "Now Amazon customers can choose to have DVDs delivered to their doorsteps or download videos directly to their computers with Amazon Unbox.”
