Amazon Taps $1 Billion Focus Group by Streaming Shows on Twitch
- Original comedy pilots to run on gaming site for 24 hours
- Viewer feedback sought as content race with Netflix heats up
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Amazon.com Inc. has discovered a new use for Twitch Interactive Inc., which it purchased two years ago for about $1 billion. Seeking feedback from Twitch’s highly engaged audience of 10 million daily users, Amazon streamed two original TV-show pilots produced by its own studios on the gaming website.
The first-time move highlights how Twitch can potentially be used to advantage against video-streaming rival Netflix Inc., giving Amazon a vast audience on which to test new shows before committing to producing entire seasons. Both Amazon and Netflix produce original programs to attract customers with exclusive content.