Amazon confirms India launch

Amazon has confirmed it will roll out its Prime Video service in India, with local content part of the company’s plans.

Reports first emerged last year that the US online retail giant was preparing to enter the country, hiring former Sony Entertainment executive Nitesh Kripalani to lead its new initiatives.

The company’s Prime shopping service is already available in India and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos told investors this week Prime Video would also become available “soon.”

Bezos added that India’s Prime Video service would offer members “exclusive access to Amazon original series and movies – including original content featuring top Indian creators and talent.

Amazon is ramping up its global expansion, with plans reportedly in place to launch in France, Italy and Spain this year. In Europe, Amazon Prime Video is available in the UK, Austria and Germany, while it recently revealed its first original shows in Japan.

Netflix is already available in India, where local competitors include Hooq, a joint venture between SingTel, Warner Bros and Sony Pictures Television, and Hotstar, backed by Fox’s Star India network.

India is the second largest mobile market in the world after China, which has 1.27 billion users, but infrastructure problems have held up streamer roll-outs.

Confirmation of Amazon’s plans for India came as the company reported its third consecutive set of record profits, with revenues jumping 31%.