An Amazon email, sent to marketplace sellers, has revealed that the retailer will soon stop selling the Apple TV and Google Chromecast. The message said that the decision was taken because these devices do not ‘interact well’ with its own Prime Video streaming service. No new listings for the products will be allowed, and existing listings will be removed at the end of the month. Streaming devices that run Prime Video more easily, such as Roku TV, will not be affected.
Analyst Comment
This move comes just before the end-of-year shopping season, and is likely to hurt Google – which has no stores of its own – more than Apple. However, it is also likely to hit Amazon, as these are two of the most popular streaming devices in the market today. It is a clear example of Amazon’s willingness to sacrifice sales to bolster its own services. (TA)
