DHAKA: Online retail giant Amazon has launched an online video service to rival Google’s YouTube.

Amazon Video Direct will allow users to post videos and earn royalties.

Viewers can rent and buy content or watch it for free with adverts. An ad-free version is offered to Amazon Prime members - a subscription service with other benefits.

Initially, videos will be viewable in the US, Germany, Austria, Japan and the UK.

The firm already offers access to professional TV shows and films via Prime Video, a rival to Netflix.

It also streams user-generated clips about video games via Twitch.

‘There are more options for distribution than ever before and with Amazon Video Direct, for the first time, there’s a self-service option for video providers to get their content into a premium streaming subscription service,’ said Jim Freeman, Vice President of Amazon Video, reports the BBC.

‘We’re excited to make it even easier for content creators to find an audience, and for that audience to find great content.’

The news comes barely a month after online talent firm Fullscreen launched its own subscription video platform.

Previously the firm had published content on free platforms like YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat.

YouTube offers an ad-free subscription service of its own - YouTube Red - which costs $10 per month.

BDST: 1532 HRS, MAY 11, 2016
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