Yesterday, Amazon.com pre-launched a new online store selling streaming movies and TV shows, called Amazon Video on Demand.

Unlike other online video services such as Apple iTunes which require you to download and save video content, users of the Amazon service will be able to stream – i.e. start watching – any of the 40,000 movies and television programs immediately after ordering them. Released to a limited group of Amazon customers for now, the service will be rolled out to all customers later during the summer.

Amazon also plans to deliver this content direct to televisions. In the first iteration of this initiative, Amazon Video On Demand will be available via the Sony Bravia Internet Video link, a $300 tower-shaped device that funnels web video directly to Sony high-definition televisions.

Video on demand is here folks. First downloadable video, now streaming video. Say goodbye to your local video store.

Source: Brad Stone, “Amazon Plans an Online Store for Movies and TV Shows”, The New York Times, July 17, 2008

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