Constantine premieres on Prime Instant Video

Here's one for Amazon Prime subscribers. DC Comics' Constantine joins live-action stablemates Arrow, Gotham and The Flash on the small screen.

Constantine stars Matt Ryan in the titular role of John Constantive and is co-produced by David S Goyer, one of the screenwriters behind Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy.

The first episode is available on Amazon Prime Instant Video now, with future episodes appearing "hours" after their first airing in the States on NBC.

"It’s the one night of the year when audiences around the world are looking for a fright, so we're delighted to be making the UK exclusive first episode of Constantine available to Prime Instant Video customers this Halloween," said Chris Bird, director of content strategy at Amazon Instant Video.

The opening episode Non Est Asylum impressed me and Constantine was added to my Watchlist without hesitation.

The Tick rebooted as Amazon Pilot

TheWrap reports The Tick will be rebooted as part of the next Amazon Pilot Season.

The original live-action series, following the hit animated series on the defunct children's channel Fox Kids, was short-lived despite universal acclaim in 2001.

Patrick Warburton (Family Guy) is set to reprise the role of the titular character after negotiating a deal with Sony Television who held the rights to the original series.

It's a canny leftfield move by Amazon as its original series haven't been as well received as arch-rival Netflix.

Which series would you like to see rebooted? Let me know in the comments below.

Amazon Fire TV to challenge Apple TV in Europe

Amazon has announced Fire TV is coming to Europe only months after the sleek streaming device's US debut.

Speaking on the first day of the IFA technology show in Berlin, senior vice president of devices David Limp said: "We think that the products that are out there - and we sell a lot of them on Amazon - just haven't offered customers the value that we think you can, and this is an existence proof that you can put a lot of horsepower and performance into a box, at a great value."

Fire TV ships from 23rd October. The device will be available from Amazon, Argos, Dixons, Sainsbury's and Tesco.

New and existing Prime members can pre-order Fire TV for only £49 in the UK. That's a £30 saving on the listed price until Monday.

Jeff Bezos, Amazon Founder and CEO said: "Tiny box, huge specs, tons of content, incredible price- customers love Fire TV and we’re thrilled to introduce it in the UK.

"Voice search that actually works means no more typing on an alphabet grid. Our exclusive new ASAP feature predicts the shows you’ll want to watch and gets them ready to stream instantly. And our open approach gives you not just Amazon Instant Video and Prime Instant Video, but also Netflix, Sky News, YouTube, Spotify, and more."

In related news. Amazon has reported a 70% increase in streaming since rebranding LOVEFiLM.

“Customers tell us that they love exclusive content and we see that these movies and TV shows almost always enter the Top 5 most watched lists immediately”, said Chris Bird, Film Strategy Director for Amazon Prime Instant Video UK. “Since exclusive content has continuously been among the most streamed, we are very happy to announce more highlights coming up this autumn such as the Amazon Studios original series Transparent starring Jeffrey Tambor and Roman Coppola’s Mozart In The Jungle, and of course the third series of the cancelled popular British drama Ripper Street which we’re currently filming exclusively for Prime Instant Video customers and will launch later this year before broadcast on the BBC next year.”

Tempted to add another box below your TV? Let me know in the comments below.

Sky Sports Week Pass on NOW TV

From Thursday NOW TV subscribers will be able to purchase a Sky Sports Week Pass for £10.99. This a smart move in Sky's battle with BT Sport and includes the brand new channel Sky Sports 5, which launches tomorrow. However, sports fans will most likely prefer a competitively priced monthly subscription much like Sky Movies.

Gidon Katz, director of NOW TV said: "With the start of the football season just days away, this is a great time to be giving sports fans even more choice. We know our sports fans are hungry for more flexibility in how they watch sports and the new Sky Sports Week Pass offers just that. Now fans simply have to decide if they want to snack on a day pass or feast on a week's sport for just £10.99."

Richard Broughton, director of broadband at research company IHS, believes the new offer is recognition that NOW TV is too pricey. “The main thing Sky is recognising here is that it is facing a bit of an uphill challenge getting consumers to buy into NOW TV. Film and entertainment are great but sport has always been the driver. They have pushed NOW TV as the more premium alternative to Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video, but it has not really been attractive enough to compete.”

NOW TV is currently available on the NOW TV Box, PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android smartphones and tablets, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, YouView, LG Smart TVs, selected LG media devices, Roku boxes and Apple TV (Sky Sports Day Pass only).

Steven Spielberg instrumental in bringing Extant to TV

Steven Spielberg was instrumental in bringing new sci-fi series Extant to the small screen according to series showrunner Greg Walker:

"Well, very involved in the very beginning. I mean, even before I was involved, he read Mickey's script and responded to it. And he kind of brought it under his roof there at Amblin Television and brought Mickey in. And then I joined up. And then we went and went out and pitched it," Walker recalled. "But every step of the way, from the creation of the world after what... you know, the extension of the world post-Mickey's pilot, and through every character's development and all the season-long arcs, we consulted with Steven and had long conversations with him."

The series starring Halle Berry as an astronaut premieres on CBS and Prime Instant Video this July.

Looking forward to Extant? Let me know in the comments below.

Sci-fi thriller Extant debuts on Amazon Prime Instant

Amazon has announced CBS Studios International's sci-fi thriller Extant, starring Academy Award-winner Halle Berry and produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television, will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Instant Video in the UK this July.

“Extant is a bold and thrilling new series from some of the biggest names in entertainment”, said Chris Bird, Strategy Director for Amazon Instant Video Film & TV. “Having such a highly anticipated and star-studded show premiere exclusively on Prime Instant Video is a perfect example of our ongoing commitment to bringing the very best in movie and TV entertainment to our customers in the UK.”

While Armando Nuñez, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Global Distribution Group, added: “We’re excited to see the first window of Extant stream on Amazon in the UK. With its stellar talent, unique concept and production auspices, Extant is sure to be this year’s television event in the U.S. and around the globe.”

Amazon is upping the ante in its streaming war with Netflix and NOW TV in the UK.

Extant joins a growing line up of first run content on Prime Instant Video including Starz’s Black Sails, the TF1 series Crossing Lines, History’s epic drama Vikings as well as Amazon Studios original series Alpha House, Betas, The After, Mozart In The Jungle and Transparent.

Beware the Batman exclusive to Prime Instant Video

My Prime Instant Video Watchlist is brimming with DC Comics' acclaimed animated series: from Batman: The Animated Series to Young Justice.

Beware the Batman is the latest exclusive on the streaming service in the UK.

"This milestone deal signals an exciting time in the growth of our exclusive content offering," said Tim Leslie, Vice President of Amazon Instant Video EU. "We're passionate about investing in the very best shows for our customers of all ages, and this is a great new series for a range of generations to immerse themselves in."

Jeffrey R Schlesinger, President of Warner Bros Worldwide Television Distribution, added: "Bruce Wayne is a character with so many stories to tell, and we're excited to have brought this cutting-edge animated series to a service like Amazon Prime Instant Video. Allowing the Caped Crusader's fans to enjoy all episodes on-demand means new audiences can experience the action-packed world of Beware the Batman whenever they want, however they want."

Doctor Who and Sherlock on Prime Instant Video

Amazon has inked a deal with BBC Worldwide to add Doctor Who and Sherlock to its Prime Instant Video streaming service. Emphasising the company's continued investment in quality content for its members.

These award-winning drama series are already available on Netflix. However, more classic Doctor Who serials would be welcomed.

In other Amazon-related news. The online giant is buying ComiXology for an undisclosed amount. This could have far-reaching implications for the comic book industry.

Amazon Prime Instant costs £79 for a yearly subscription.

Amazon Fire TV trumps Apple TV for $99!

For years speculation has surrounded an Amazon streaming device. Not so much if, but when. Today the company tardily unveiled its Fire TV during a live media event in New York City.

The new Android-based streaming device apes the Kindle HDX form factor sans built-in screen, boasts triple the processing power of Apple TV, Chromecast and Roku, and features voice search FTW.

Voice search works with the bundled Bluetooth remote's microphone. With Fire TV you simply speak the title, actor, or genre into the remote and you're done. It's a simpler solution to Microsoft's Kinect.

X-Ray for Movies & TV by IMDb brings second screen integration much like Xbox SmartGlass. You’ll be able to look up actors, music, or other IMDb-provided details, as the content plays on your TV. Amazon says that X-Ray will add support for iOS devices later this year.

Amazon is not only taking on Apple, Google and Roku, but has Ouya in its sights too. As rumoured, a dedicated controller accessory is available to play games on the Fire TV. The diminutive set-top-box will play games like Minecraft, Asphalt 8 and a few other games at an average price of $1.85. Thus beating Apple to the punch in offering apps and games.

Fire TV will host lots of apps aside from Prime Instant Video. Including Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, YouTube, Crackle, Showtime Anywhere and many more.

Amazon Fire TV ships from today in the US for $99. There's no word on an international release and that's where Apple TV dominates.

The streaming wars just got more intense. However, do consumers need another box?

Bluetooth controller for Kindle?

Much has been made of the recent Amazon Prime price hike in the UK and US! Combined with ongoing speculation the company will add a music streaming service and release its own media streamer to directly compete with Apple TV and Roku in the spring.

This has been further fueled by photos of an apparent Bluetooth controller for the unannounced streaming device. The controller could be used with Kindle Fire, which has a thriving Android-based games store. It's worth noting Amazon recently acquired Double Helix Games, developer of the Xbox One Killer Instinct and multi-platform Strider reboots.

Looks like a prototype Xbox One controller and the anthesis of ergonomic design. Please let me know your thoughts in comments.