Share:
Free this Saturday
Amazon has been pushing its Prime Instant Video streaming service quite heavily of late. Now it's making Transparent – one of its homegrown shows – available to all, so you don't have to sign up to the service to watch.
On Saturday, anyone can watch the show for free through the Amazon Instant Video app for smart TVs, connected devices, on mobiles and tablets, or through your browser at http://ift.tt/1xG1NbQ.
The show recently won two Golden Globes – Best Musical or Comedy Series, and its star Jeffrey Tambor picked up Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Series. To celebrate, Amazon is offering Prime to US customers for $72 – it was the 72nd Golden Globes – which is 25 per cent less than usual. There's no word if the offer applies to UK customers.
Transparent is a dramatic comedy that centres on a Los Angeles family after their father Mort (Tambor) reveals he is transgender. It also stars Gaby Hoffmann, Amy Landecker, Jay Duplass and Melora Hardin. Amazon has commissioned a second series, which will air later this year.
"We're incredibly proud of everyone involved in the making of Transparent – the team took a risk and it paid off," Jeff Bezos, Amazon's CEO and founder, said in a statement. "Big kudos to Jill, Jeffrey, and all the cast and crew."
Read more: Amazon Fire TV review
Amazon is playing catch up to Netflix, whose original series include Breaking Bad, House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. Both firms rely on their original programming to set them apart from rival streaming services. Both are also moving into films, with Amazon announcing it will release 12 a year, and air them on Prime Instant Video a month or two later.
Netflix is working on a sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.