Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said the e-commerce giant has amassed 100 million Prime subscribers globally, a eye-catching number the company disclosed for the first time.
In his annual letter to shareholders, Bezos reported the milestone, which he attributed in part to the success of Amazons video streaming service and the popularity of award-winning original series such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and the Oscar-nominated movie The Big Sick.
“Prime Video continues to drive Prime member adoption and retention,” Bezos wrote.
The surprise revelation comes in a week that Netflix reported it now has 125 million global subscribers, up from 117.6 million a year ago. Its a sign of the growing power of the digital distributors over the media landscape.
Bezos talked about Amazons expanded its slate of programming in 2017, with its launch of new seasons of Bosch and Sneaky Pete from the U.S., The Grand Tour in the U.K. and You Are Wanted in Germany. The executive also highlighted the addition of CBS All Access to its Prime Channels offerings, and the debut of NFL Thursday Night Football, which attracted 18 million viewers over 11 games.
“Looking forward, were also excited about our upcoming Prime Original series pipeline, which includes Tom Clancys Jack Ryan staring John Krasinski, King Lear, staring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, The Romanoffs, executive produced by Matt Weiner, Carnival Row starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, Good Omens starring Jon Hamm, and Homecoming, executive produced by Sam Esmail and starring Julia Roberts in her first television series,” Bezos wrote.
That doesnt include Amazons plans for The Lord of the Rings and the forthcoming miniseries from Steven Spielberg starring Javier Bardem.
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