After weeks of speculation that Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May were in talks to present their own motoring TV show on a streaming service, Amazon Prime has pipped Netflix to the post.
It was reported the presenting trio could not make a motoring show for a rival UK broadcaster due to a clause in their BBC contract, leaving Amazon Prime and Netflix as the main contenders.
But despite Netflix’s global profile and reputation for creating acclaimed original content, the streaming service giant has not won the rights to stream the new, as yet unnamed Top Gear.
Here’s what Top Gear fans had to think of Amazon’s coup:
As if Netflix didn’t get Top Gear and Amazon did
— Zachary Borrelli (@zacoid55) July 30, 2015
The Top Gear trio are making a new show for.... Amazon. Wtf? Should have gone with Netflix
— Jay B (@jasonbetts) July 30, 2015
Amazon Prime signs Top Gear trio - huge investment in bid to beat Netflix.
— Rory Cellan-Jones (@ruskin147) July 30, 2015
A bit disappointed @netflix didn't get Top Gear... but hey, can't do much better than @amazon!
— Nick Light (@nicklmg) July 30, 2015
The best thing about #TopGear going to Amazon Prime is that I don't subscribe to Amazon Prime.
— THE STUDIO EXEC (@studioexec1) July 30, 2015
Others hoped it would force Amazon Prime to improve its service:
So #Amazon beat #Netflix to pick up the hosts of Top Gear, now Amazon just needs to improve its UI on the Roku.
— Ryan Klein (@ryanklein) July 30, 2015
amazon video beat netflix for the new top gear :s eh! really hope amazon improve that UI
— will gascoigne (@willgas) July 30, 2015
Hopefully the Top Gear news means Amazon will finally get a clue on geo restrictions and lack of Chromecast support. Netflix it ain't.
— Conor O'Neill (@conoro) July 30, 2015
Amazon Prime Instant Video is currently only available in the US, UK, Japan, Germany and Austria, leading Top Gear fans in other countries to wonder if they will be able to watch the show:
Amazon video got the new top gear rights. Of all things, they had to pick one not available in Canada?! Whatever happened to Netflix?
— Alen Hadzihasanovic (@alenppc) July 30, 2015
So Clarkson & co. went with Amazon Video, which of course in not available in Italy.
— Giancarlo Nicolof (@GiancarloN) July 30, 2015
So! Cool that Clarkson, Hammond and May are going to be on Amazon Video. Not so cool is that the service isn’t available in Australia
— Prods (@Prods_) July 30, 2015
@JeremyClarkson Amazon Prime: not available in The Netherlands. Good bye, and good luck...
— Jaap (@bavel4854) July 30, 2015
The revived Top Gear format is due to premiere on Amazon Prime Instant Video in 2016, giving the streaming service a good six months to get it up and running in more countries.
Read more: New on Netflix in August
