Amazon's new YouTube-like service will let almost anyone sell video content First Amazon took on Netflix, but now the company is taking aim at YouTube by launching Amazon Video Direct (AVD).AVD is a self-service program for video creators to make their content available to Amazon customers, including those with Prime memberships—which is nothing to scoff at, since Prime was estimated to be in about half of all U.S. households … and that was before Prime started offering $9 monthly subscriptions.Amazon’s new video service is designed “for professional video producers,” according to Bloomberg, “but its only requirements are that the videos be high definition and have closed captioning for the hearing impaired.”Jim Freeman, vice president of Amazon Video, naturally had only good things to say. “It’s an amazing time to be a content creator,” he told StreetInsider. “There are more options for distribution than ever before, and with Amazon Video Direct, for the first time, there’s a self-service option for video providers to get their content into a premium streaming subscription service. We’re excited to make it even easier for content creators to find an audience and for that audience to find great content.”When uploading a video to AVD, video creators choose whether they want to make the videos available for free, to sell or to rent videos, or to have them included in Prime. In Amazon’s words, “For each title, you can choose to earn royalties based on hours streamed by Prime members, a revenue share for rentals, purchases, monthly subscriptions, or ad impressions—or any combination of these options.” Amazon is “offering 15 cents for every hour of viewing a video creator’s stuff generates via Prime Video in the U.S., and six cents an hour for views outside of the U.S.,” a company spokesperson told Recode. “If video makers allow Amazon to show their stuff to any visitor for free, Amazon will give them 55 percent of all ad revenue their clips generate. And if uploaders let Amazon sell their stuff via its subscription service or via its rental store, Amazon will split that revenue 50-50.”Bonus for Amazon Video Direct starsVideo creators potentially could become an Amazon Video Direct star. The company explained: “Amazon will distribute a share of $1,000,000 per month as a bonus to the Top 100 titles included with Prime through Amazon Video Direct.This bonus—based on global customer engagement—is incremental to revenue earned from hours streamed, rentals, purchases, monthly subscriptions and ad impressions. All of your titles included with Prime are automatically eligible.”The first AVD Stars $1,000,000 monthly bonus will be based on streaming activity from June 1 to June 30.Variety noted that current “AVD partners include Conde Nast Entertainment, HowStuffWorks, Samuel Goldwyn Films, the Guardian, Mashable, Mattel, StyleHaul, Kin Community, Jash, Business Insider, Machinima, TYT Network, Baby Einstein, CJ Entertainment America, Xive TV, Synergetic Distribution, Kino Nation, Journeyman Pictures and Pro Guitar Lessons.” Related content news Dow Jones watchlist of high-risk businesses, people found on unsecured database A Dow Jones watchlist of 2.4 million at-risk businesses, politicians, and individuals was left unprotected on public cloud server. By Ms. Smith Feb 28, 2019 4 mins Data Breach Hacking Security news Ransomware attacks hit Florida ISP, Australian cardiology group Ransomware attacks might be on the decline, but that doesn't mean we don't have new victims. A Florida ISP and an Australian cardiology group were hit recently. By Ms. Smith Feb 27, 2019 4 mins Ransomware Security news Bare-metal cloud servers vulnerable to Cloudborne flaw Researchers warn that firmware backdoors planted on bare-metal cloud servers could later be exploited to brick a different customer’s server, to steal their data, or for ransomware attacks. By Ms. Smith Feb 26, 2019 3 mins Cloud Computing Security news Meet the man-in-the-room attack: Hackers can invisibly eavesdrop on Bigscreen VR users Flaws in Bigscreen could allow 'invisible Peeping Tom' hackers to eavesdrop on Bigscreen VR users, to discreetly deliver malware payloads, to completely control victims' computers and even to start a worm infection spreading through VR By Ms. Smith Feb 21, 2019 4 mins Hacking Vulnerabilities Security Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe