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Amazon Prime Strikes Deal for Most PBS Children’s Shows

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71–80 of 94 posts

Re: Amazon Prime Strikes Deal for Most PBS Children’s Shows

#71
post #18
post #4

Damn. That explains why Dinosaur Train and Daniel Tiger are no longer on Netflix today. That's frustrating.

Fun fact, the "dinosaur" family in Dinosaur Train are not actually dinosaurs, scientifically speaking. Of course, no self respecting 3yo will ever accept your explanation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pteranodon

This is definitely covered in one of the episodes. I believe there is a song called "that's not a dinosaur!"

(HN: your source for kids' TV information)

Re: Amazon Prime Strikes Deal for Most PBS Children’s Shows

#72
post #67
post #47

"Much of PBS Kids programming . . . will be REMOVED from rival streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu, and will be available only on Amazon Prime." Oh goody. So now instead of being able to use Netflix via Apple TV to watch her favorite PBS show my 5 year old is going to have to figure out how to bring up Amazon Prime through the shitty Samsung TV interface. Or better yet maybe I'll have to buy another device that wil…

Apple isn't preventing an Amazon app from existing! Amazon is just not willing to create one under the current terms-and-conditions. The terms are the same as iOS: if your app allows in-app purchase of digital goods, then you have to use Apple's payments system and Apple gets their 30% cut. On iOS, Amazon Video works fine, Amazon works around the 30% by not allowing signups within the app, and by not providing a link…

I refuse to use Amazon video for this specific reason. Their "prime instant" is really just a teaser; it is very difficult to search for stuff that you don't have to pay for.

It's designed to get you to buy/rent from the Amazon digital store, and hardly much else.

My children will simply not watch those shows. Zaboomafoo will be a big loss, but not much else was interesting to them.

Re: Amazon Prime Strikes Deal for Most PBS Children’s Shows

#73
post #47

"Much of PBS Kids programming . . . will be REMOVED from rival streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu, and will be available only on Amazon Prime." Oh goody. So now instead of being able to use Netflix via Apple TV to watch her favorite PBS show my 5 year old is going to have to figure out how to bring up Amazon Prime through the shitty Samsung TV interface. Or better yet maybe I'll have to buy another device that wil…

For what it's worth, PBS has an app[1] for Apple TV, and it has much of PBS' content. With that said, the general problem of certain services being restricted from/to specific platforms is extremely frustrating, and will only get more painful as exclusives become common. [1] http://www.pbs.org/anywhere/connected-tv/apple-tv/

From my experience on the AppleTV3, the PBS Kids channel/app had very limited access to past episodes. Is this different on ATV4?

Re: Amazon Prime Strikes Deal for Most PBS Children’s Shows

#74
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And this is why so many people pirate. I pay for these services, and get no notification. I feel justified as long as it's on one of the services I pay for (Amazon, Netflix, Hulu), since I don't feel like having to remember which damn app to use. Nor can I get me 5yo to grasp it either. So I use Kodi and a file server. Now my son can choose what he wants to watch, which makes him so happy. He'd much rather get the re…

I know Netflix is notorious for this. Keeping titles up for a couple months, taking whole seasons of shows off, with absolutely no notice.

It's not like the upstream content providers have any part in this balkanization of content.

Re: Amazon Prime Strikes Deal for Most PBS Children’s Shows

#75

"Amazon Prime reached a deal to become the exclusive premium streaming service " The exclusivity is a real problem! And with something like PBS??? My family uses Netflix to watch many PBS shows like Dinosaur Train and now can't do that anymore. Screw you Amazon! Edited to add: And Screw you PBS!

Why not just use the PBS Kids app? My daughter adores it.

Does it have past episodes of all the shows?

Re: Amazon Prime Strikes Deal for Most PBS Children’s Shows

#76
I've gotten to the point where I don't care if Netflix or Hulu get an exclusive for series or movies, but it really annoys me when Amazon does. Exclusives are a way for them to sell subscriptions and I get that. For Netflix and Hulu, they both work really hard to basically make their content available everywhere. I think nearly every one of my devices capable of playing video down to Nintendo 2DSs can have Netflix and Hulu.

The problem with Amazon that they seem to be more about pushing the hardware by limiting where the service is available. Amazon Instant video was unavailable on Android tablets for a very long time because Amazon wanted to push Kindle Fires and now we're seeing the same thing for Chromecast and AppleTV to push FireTV devices. And then there's the auxiliary complaint with Amazon instant video where when you do actually have a device that supports it, the subscription content is mixed in with rent and purchase content.

Re: Amazon Prime Strikes Deal for Most PBS Children’s Shows

#77
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It _was_ widely available, on Hulu and Netflix. Swapping those two ubiquitous services our for Amazon Instant Video is a dramatic decrease in availability, given the limited number of devices that Amazon allows access on (i.e. no Chromecase, no Apple TV, etc).

Can't you cast from the Amazon app on your Android and iOS phone?

Nope. Amazon does not support Chromecast.

You _could_ load it in your browser and cast the tab, but the quality is terrible and you end up playing it in two places...

Re: Amazon Prime Strikes Deal for Most PBS Children’s Shows

#78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And 37 menu navigation options later (including the always fun 'spell words like you're texting in 1997' search functionality) you can finally watch something. As opposed to the 'use the native UI on your phone, then hit one button to cast it' experience. We are Amazon Prime subscribers, but I can't remember the last time we watched anything on Amazon Prime Instant Video... it's just too much of a hassle...

This is definitely why I prefer the Chromecast experience over loading Hulu through the PS3 (which is actually also pretty good, given that Daniel Tiger is always on the front page). It's a small difference, but when trying to get myself and my daughter ready in the morning, any reduction in friction is appreciated.

Yep...

"Dad, can I watch a show?"

"Sure honey "

Now?

"Dad, can I watch a show?"

"Sorry sweetie, but I'm feeding your brothers right now, maybe in a little bit..."

Re: Amazon Prime Strikes Deal for Most PBS Children’s Shows

#79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its called linux.

I'd just like to interject for a moment. What you’re referring to as Linux, is in fact, GNU/Linux, or as I’ve recently taken to calling it, GNU plus Linux. Linux is not an operating system unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning GNU system made useful by the GNU corelibs, shell utilities and vital system components comprising a full OS as defined by POSIX.

Thanks Richard.

Re: Amazon Prime Strikes Deal for Most PBS Children’s Shows

#80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recommend you get a game console - all three current and last generation consoles support Amazon video (Wii/Wii U/PS3/PS4/Xbox 360/Xbox One). Plus they can play games.

There's a pretty big difference between getting a $35 Chromecast vs even last generation's console. Other than the cost, I also feel that now that I'm a parent, my consoles are just terrible reminders that I will never again have the time or inclination to play any of the wonderful games that go with them.

I totally get that, but maybe it can become a gateway to playing games with your kids.
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