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Amazon device weds Echo & clicker
Jeff Bezos is doubling down on his attempt to dominate your living room.
Amazon on Monday introduced the Fire TV Cube — a hybrid device that combines the functionality of its Echo smart speaker with the streaming prowess of its Fire TV Stick.
But beyond playing movies and shows and answering Alexa queries, the Fire TV Cube will work as a universal remote — allowing owners to control the TV power, volume and channel selector with just their voices.
It can also operate things like sound bars and Blu-Ray players.
“We believe voice makes it easier for customers to control their entertainment systems,” the company said in a press release. “Amazon Fire TV Cube will only get better over time with the Alexa service always getting smarter.”
Amazon’s Alexa-enabled smart speakers are the most popular such product on the market, having moved “tens of millions” of units over the past year, accord- ing to Chief Executive Bezos
The Fire TV Cube — which will cost $120, but will be made available for $90 to Prime subscribers who preorder it — is scheduled to be released June 21.
Separately, Amazon said Thursday that it has won rights to show 20 English Premier League soccer matches a season in the UK — its Prime Video streaming service’s first foray into the popular sport. The rights begin in 2019. The Premier League rights package was one of two previously unsold three-year packages for UK rights, the Premier League said.
Early December midweek games and the Christmas bank-holiday games will be shown, Amazon said.
Weekly highlights will also be streamed, the company said.
The games and highlights will be free for Prime members.
The deal underlines Amazon’s ambition to take on traditional pay-TV broadcasters in the multibilliondollar battle for sports rights.