Amazon is developing a standalone app for watching sports, according to a new report from The Information. The move signals Amazon’s ongoing drive to invest in Prime Video and live sports content. If released, the standalone app would better showcase Amazon’s sports content, which currently resides on the company’s main platform, Prime Video.
The report comes as Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently called live sports “a unique asset” in which Amazon will continue to invest. Current live sports offerings from Amazon include exclusive rights to the NFL’s Thursday Night Football, as well as some Premier League football and Yankees baseball games. Amazon has also invested in other sports content to complement live games as the company launched original sports talk shows on both Prime Video and its ad-supported streaming service Freevee.
It’s unknown when Amazon plans to launch the standalone sports app. It’s also possible that the company will decide to shelve the plans altogether.
Amazon didn’t respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.
Amazon’s plans for a standalone sports app suggest the company is exploring new ways to turn its live sports investments into additional revenue streams. Given the high cost of streaming rights, it wouldn’t be surprising if the company plans to charge a separate subscription fee for sports content with this standalone app. It’s also possible that Amazon decides to offer a separate subscription tier that includes its sports content.
The new report comes as Amazon reviewed parts of its unprofitable businesses, resulting in the elimination of numerous roles. Even amid these cost-cutting efforts, Amazon seems determined to grow Prime Video and its live sports streaming content.
Amazon isn’t the only big company looking to continue investing in live sports content, as the company faces increasing competition from other tech giants that have also landed sports streaming deals. Last week, YouTube secured the NFL Sunday Ticket from Google in a landmark streaming deal. On the other hand, Apple acquired the rights to Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer games.
