Amazon to exclusively stream PBS’s Mercy Street


Details

Michelle Clancy

| 15 January 2016




Online video giant Amazon and PBS have announced an in-season content licensing agreement for the PBS Civil War-era original drama, Mercy Street.



The deal will make Prime Video the exclusive premium subscription streaming home for the show, with each episode available to Prime members in the US seven days after broadcast on PBS stations. In addition, all customers can stream the first episode of the series on Amazon Video today, three days before its broadcast premiere, at no cost via the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices or mobile devices, or online.

"Prime members love PBS period dramas like Downton Abbey and Mr Selfridge and fans of those great shows are going to really enjoy Mercy Street," said Brad Beale, vice president, Digital Video Content Acquisition, Amazon. "We are also excited to bring each episode of Mercy Street to Prime Video only seven days after it broadcasts on PBS stations. Prime members have valued having in-season access to shows like Extant and Under the Dome and we're thrilled to provide even more in-season availability with PBS' Mercy Street."

"We're thrilled to premiere Mercy Street on local PBS stations, as it is a wonderful illustration of the high-quality dramatic and historical programming that is a hallmark of our work," added Beth Hoppe, chief programming officer and GM, General Audience Programming, PBS. "This collaboration with Amazon showcases Mercy Street to Prime Video members, bringing new fans to the series and our stations."

This is the latest in a series of similar windowing deals, such as the one the streamer inked with CBS for Extant.