Amazon Scores Big Win Over Netflix

Last month, with the two companies at odds over renewal terms, Viacom's licensing deal with Netflix ended. Now, Viacom is bringing its shows, from the likes of Nickelodeon, MTV, and Comedy Central, over to Amazon in a multiyear streaming deal, the Wall Street Journal reports. (You can see them in a category that's actually titled "Prime Member Exclusives: Not on Netflix.) TV fare involving Dora and SpongeBob were likely part of the appeal: "Kids' shows are one of the most watched TV genres on Prime Instant Video," says an Amazon rep.

The specifics of the deal remain murky, but insiders tell Mashable it's Amazon's largest content deal yet, "in the hundreds of millions" of dollars. Netflix and Viacom had hit snags over questions of pricing and exclusivity. Netflix is getting pickier about its content, the Journal notes, seeking material that will be a hit rather than just giant libraries. (More Nickelodeon stories.)