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Amazon to create original programming

May 4, 2012

Being the world's largest online retailer isn't enough for Amazon.com. The company recently announced plans to make and sell its own comedy and children's programs, according to blogger Steven Brown. The move is a direct challenge to companies like Netflix Inc. and Hulu, Brown said. Netflix is working on its own original shows, and Los Angeles-based Hulu, part owned by Walt Disney, is also looking to original programming to increase sales.

Amazon is now accepting pitches for primetime comedies or children's shows on its "Amazon Studios" site. The plan is to pay a successful series creator as much as $55,000 plus up to 5 percent of what Amazon earns from selling toys and T-shirts, as well as other royalties and bonuses.

The studio, Brown said, is already developing 15 movies, chosen from 7,000 scripts submitted since late 2010.

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