Flipkart planning free video streaming service to take on Amazon
Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart is gearing up to challenge its prime competitor, Amazon, on a new front - video streaming. A new report, confirmed by sources at the Walmart-owned company, has indicated that Flipkart is planning to launch its own over-the-top video streaming service to match Amazon Prime Video. Here's all you need to know about the upcoming platform.
'Flipkart Videos' with movies and shows
Speaking with Network 18's Money Control, the sources said Flipkart will launch a free video streaming platform called 'Flipkart Videos'. The service won't have original content but will offer popular entertainment shows as well as Hollywood and Bollywood movies. Though exact details remain unclear, the report says that the content would be licensed from several production houses, including Walt Disney and Balaji Telefilms.
Service would be free for Flipkart Plus subscribers
The best part about Flipkart Videos, in our opinion, would be the free availability of the service. According to the sources, the e-commerce giant would keep Flipkart Videos' access free for people subscribed to its Plus service. Notably, Flipkart Plus is pretty similar to Amazon Prime, although it only offers access to faster shipping and exclusive deals, no video and music benefits.
Flipkart Plus doesn't require users to pay
Unlike Amazon Prime, you don't have to pay a specific fee to become a Flipkart Plus member. Instead, the service just requires you to collect 300 Super coins, with two coins being accumulated on every Rs. 100 you spend on the shopping site.
To note, Flipkart Videos won't come as a separate app
The sources also claimed that Flipkart Videos will come as part of the main Flipkart app. This will create a level of stickiness as users would be navigating through the shopping app for browsing entertainment movies/shows. "Why should someone have separate apps to shop and watch movies," one of the sources said, noting that "video is just another service."
Launch targeted before Diwali
The exact timeline of launch remains unclear, but the sources say the video service should go live before Diwali. When that happens, it would be interesting to see how the service fares against Amazon, which has been investing heavily in India-specific original shows for Prime Video. The service comes at Rs. 1,000/year and has raked in 13 million subscribers since its launch in 2016.
