It's the first time that Amazon officially disclosed subscriber numbers for Amazon Prime as subscription video-on-demand SVOD) streaming services are coming under increasing pressure to prove how their individual subscriber base expands.
In his annual letter to shareholders, Jeff Bezos reported the milestone, which he attributed in part to the success of Amazon's video streaming service and the popularity of award-winning original series like the recent The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
"Amazon Prime Video continues to drive Prime member adoption and retention," Jeff Bezos wrote.
Amazon Prime Video will be expanding its TV content offering with the most expensive TV series yet - its adaptation of Lord of the Rings, and a miniseries from Steven Spielberg with Javier Bardem.
"Looking forward, we're also excited about our upcoming Prime Original series pipeline, which includes Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan staring John Krasinski, King Lear, staring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, The Romanoffs, executive produced by Matt Weiner, Carnival Row starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, Good Omens starring Jon Hamm, and Homecoming, executive produced by Sam Esmail and starring Julia Roberts in her first television series," Jeff Bezos wrote.
"We acquired the global television rights for a multi-season production of The Lord of the Rings, as well as Cortés, a miniseries based on the epic saga of Hernán Cortés from executive producer Steven Spielberg, starring Javier Bardem, and we look forward to beginning work on those shows this year."
Jeff Bezos' letter can be read here in its entirety.
