Lovefilm to air Amazon originals for free in pilot programme

UK subscription video-on-demand provider Lovefilm is to air original pilot shows from its parent company’s Amazon Studios unit.

Lovefilm will host 11 original TV series test pilots for its members to stream for free. The kids and comedy content will be made available to Lovefilm subscribers in the UK and Germany, with viewers’ responses being taken into account by Amazon Studios in deciding which shows to take into full-season production.

Amazon Studios made its first pilot commitment for six original comedy shows in December, and its kids shows takes to 11 the number of pilots currently in production.

“Production is already underway for the first set of comedy pilots we announced in December, and now we are excited to add even more pilots to the list – five amazing preschool children’s series. Our children’s series come from industry luminaries with credits such as Blue’s Clues, Rugrats and Dino Dan. We think parents – and our very youngest customers – are going to love the magical combination of entertainment and learning that they’ll discover in these children’s series,” said Roy Price, director of Amazon Studios.

The five kids pilots comprise Creative Galaxy, Oz Adventures, Teeny Tiny Dogs, Tumbleaf and The Untitled JJ Johnson Project, while the comedy shows are Alpha House, Browsers, Dark Minions, The Onion Presents: The News, Supernatural and Those Who Can’t.