Netflix may be the streaming site claiming awards for its original shows, but Amazon has started to bring the heat. Amazon recently released its second batch of 10 original pilots, and is asking its Prime customers to vote on which they want to see turn into full series. Amazon’s first batch of pilots last year led to two new shows: Betas and Alpha House. Both were fairly well-received, but neither was a critical darling like Netflix’s House of Cards. Could Amazon’s second batch of pilots hold its breakout hit? Five of the ten new shows are aimed at kids, but others include a series from X-Files creator Chris Carter that’s vaguely reminiscent of LOST, while another follows a Los Angeles detective in a story based off a best-selling novel from Michael Connelly. Watching any of these shows will make it obvious that Amazon’s production values were much higher this time around. Time will tell if any of these series will take off, but one thing is clear: Netflix should watch its back.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.