This is presumably more money for PBS than they were getting before which means they will have a larger budget for new programming. Also, the content is already free to access for those consumers you are so worried about:
> All of the titles moving to Amazon will still be broadcast on local PBS stations, on PBS’s website and the PBS Kids Video app. Amazon Prime will have the streaming rights to shows approximately six months after their premiere date on PBS stations.
The website and PBS kids video app have maybe 3-4 episodes of each show. Not even close to what Amazon will now carry, and what Netflix used to have.
Also, from what I've seen most kids (mine included) are now watching PBS via streaming apps and not live tv. PBS is now locking most of their kids content behind one corporation.
> This is presumably more money for PBS than they were getting before
Their priority is not profit, but public service. Since this reduces the availability of their programming, it is a disservice to the public that supports them through taxes, regardless of how much richer they are now.
> Their priority is not profit, but public service. Since this reduces the availability of their programming, it is a disservice to the public that supports them through taxes, regardless of how much richer they are now.
Public service can be defined many ways. Is it better to have less programming that is available on Netflix and Hulu or more programming that is available on Amazon? Amazon Prime has very wide reach, this may actually increase the number of kids with streaming access. If it did increase the number would you be for the move?
How can Amazon alone reach more people than Amazon, Netflix and Hulu combined? The difference will have to be huge to allow production of enough programming to offset the reduced streaming audience.
I understand they cannot neglect the broadcast TV segment, but this is nuts.
BTW, it's odd to me the Department of State doesn't see PBS as a powerful propaganda tool. It's your BBC.
Is there a (good) reason PBS can't license it to both Netflix and Amazon? Is it possible Amazon (or Netflix) are really willing to pay more for exclusive access than Amazon and Netflix combined would pay for non-exclusive access?
> Is it possible Amazon (or Netflix) are really willing to pay more for exclusive access than Amazon and Netflix combined would pay for non-exclusive access?
The good reason is precisely that one distributor is willing to pay more for the content on an exclusive basis than multiple providers would on a non-exclusive basis. If PBS were getting more from Amazon + Hulu + Netflix on a non-exclusive basis, they wouldn't have done this deal and reduced their revenue.
> All of the titles moving to Amazon will still be broadcast on local PBS stations, on PBS’s website and the PBS Kids Video app. Amazon Prime will have the streaming rights to shows approximately six months after their premiere date on PBS stations.