The Varsity Inside Amazon’s A-List Sports Strategy
Oct 29, 2025
Jay Marine, a key Amazon executive driving Prime Video's sports strategy, shares insights on the company's transformation into a major player in live sports. He discusses the $20 billion NBA deal and how Amazon is reshaping league perceptions of streaming. Marine emphasizes investing in tier-one sports and women's leagues, aligning with Prime member value. He highlights innovative approaches like AI features and integration of shopping and betting in broadcasts, aiming to create a unique viewing experience for fans.
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Sports To Strengthen Prime Membership
- Amazon's sports strategy centers on making Prime better by winning over Prime members with must-have sports rights.
- Tier-one properties are chosen because they drive membership value and long-term engagement.
Proof Built Credibility With Leagues
- Success with Thursday Night Football changed leagues' perception of streaming credibility.
- Delivering production quality, younger audiences, and audience growth made Amazon a 'preferred partner.'
Scar Tissue From Early Failures
- Jay recalls early skepticism when Amazon first did Thursday Night Football and Kindle faced criticism at launch.
- He says scar tissue from past failures helped them persist through doubts.