Amazon Scores Exclusive Scripps Deal to Stream Food Channel, HGTV on Prime

In another jab to Netflix, Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) said Thursday it has struck an exclusive deal with Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE:SNI) to stream popular reality TV networks like the Food Channel and HGTV on Prime.

Terms were not disclosed.

The licensing deal covers hundreds of episodes from past seasons of hit TV shows on those networks as well as the Cooking Channel, Travel Channel and DIY Network, which house popular shows like the Iron Chef, House Hunters, Diners Drive-Ins and Dives and Cupcake Wars.

The deal marks the first online-only subscription distribution deal for Scripps and is an exclusive for Amazon.

“The Scripps family of networks airs some of the highest-quality and most popular unscripted lifestyle programming on TV today,” said Brad Beale, Director of Digital Video Content Acquisition for Amazon.

Amazon has been building its portfolio of online content to be used for its Prime Instant Video subscription, which also provides members with free Amazon shipping.

Its service, which features more than 38,000 movies and TV episodes, directly competes with Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) and others in the space like Coinstar’s (NASDAQ:CSTR) RedBox.

Shares of Netflix were up more than 2% in recent trade, while those of Coinstar fell 1.25% and Amazon’s traded virtually flat.

Last week, Amazon and CBS announced an extension of their licensing agreement, including the subscription debuts of The Amazing Race and Undercover Boss.

Amazon also announced recently that Prime will become the exclusive online subscription home for PBS hit Downton Abbey.