Overview
Looking to add another streaming service to your subscriptions? Particularly keen on Amazon Prime Video, the online shopping behemoth's film and television platform? Good news and bad news, Australians. Firstly, you can sign up and stream selected content right now. But (and yes, sorry, there's a but)... it doesn't appear as though it's all that official.
Technology website EFTM first broke the news that Aussies could not only register for an Amazon Prime Video account, but start watching Amazon's original programming such as The Man In The High Castle and Red Oaks. And, since then, word has spread that Amazon has launched their video platform in Australia. That's particularly exciting for anyone interested in watching The Grand Tour, aka Amazon's new motoring show hosted by former Top Gear personalities Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, which kicked off on November 18. Alas, it's not quite that straightforward.
On the one hand, yes, you can currently access the aforementioned series, and others that don't have streaming deals with other platforms — although with some restrictions (only the first season of '80s set dramedy Red Oaks is available, for example, despite the second season launching in the US last week; and you can't access shows like Transparent that are available elsewhere in Australia). However, in a pretty significant sign that using Amazon Prime Video in Australia isn't as official as we all want it to be, you can only access it by visiting either the American or UK sites. There's no Prime Video option on amazon.com.au, no Australian pricing, and no information whatsoever about the service being offered to Aussies.
In a statement reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Amazon is adamant that it hasn't launched in Australia, which answers the question, really. Why Aussies can access content through the US and UK sites remains unanswered.
Of course, it has long been rumoured that the platform would launch locally soon, largely thanks to The Grand Tour's certain appeal to Australian audiences, and the fact that Amazon has retained the global rights to the show — and it likely will in December as already announced. For now, in what is proving a big week for Amazon on our shores (the retail giant is set to launch a series of bricks-and-mortar stores and an online supermarket here within the next two years), go forth and watch what you can while you can, and watch this space for more developments.