Amazon to launch kids’ TV shows

Amazon unveiled plans to launch its own comedy and children’s television shows for digital delivery − and is asking customers for ideas.

Amazon has already begun creating original TV shows for its online delivery system and the latest announcement expands that to comedy and kids’ programmes.

“Starting today, series creators are invited to upload their proposals for comedy and children’s programming to Amazon Studios at http://studios.amazon.com/getting-started/series ,” the company said in a statement.

The selected comedy and children’s series will be distributed through Amazon Instant Video, Amazon’s digital video streaming service.

“Amazon Studios wants to discover great talent and produce programming that audiences will love,” said Roy Price, director of Amazon Studios.

“In the course of developing movies, we’ve heard a lot of interest from content creators who want to develop original series in the comedy and children’s genres.

Amazon said it would test one new project per month with an audience and if selected for a full-budget series, the creator will receive a €41,784 payment, up to five per cent of Amazon’s net receipts from toy and t-shirt licensing, and other royalties and bonuses.