Amazon Turns to Facebook's Video to Launch New Comedy Series

Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN announced that it will launch its new comedy series, Catastrophe, on Facebook Inc FB, instead of through its Prime video. Amazon will make Facebook the exclusive source of the series premiere for its first 48 hours. After that, the first episode will be available on Prime Instant Video, followed by the rest of the season on June 19.

Typically, Amazon will make its shows available on Prime to allow users to help curate shows that it should pick up. However, with Catastrophe, the company secured the U.S. distribution rights shortly after the British comedy started airing on the UK's Channel 4.

The comedy stars Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney. Delaney's character was on a business trip to London when he develops a relationship with Horgan. Horgan's character becomes pregnant, at which point Delaney moves to London to become the father he didn't have.

The video will air on Facebook beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, June 15. In the UK, the series has already been renewed for a second season.

Consumer Reports recently compared Prime Instant Video with Netflix, Inc. NFLX. Consumer Reports said that Netflix is best for high-definition videos, while Amazon Prime would be best for consumers who are OK with standard definition, but like greater selection.

Both Amazon and Netflix shares have handily outperformed the market year to date; though Netflix's 88 percent return is more than double Amazon's 37 percent return. Both Amazon and Netflix are trading lower in Monday's session.