Can Jack Bauer Help Amazon Stop a Netflix Attack?

) is finally willing to release it in streaming form. Sadly, the same is (mostly) true for the other shows that Fox is bringing to Amazon. In fact, the only one of those shows that seems to have any success in syndication is Buffy, which has been airing on a variety of cable networks for years. By now, Fox won't lose any syndication revenue by putting it online. Given Buffy's cult following, the Amazon deal will likely increase Buffy's revenue stream. In terms of announcements, Amazon (NASDAQ:

) another reason to worry. While the Reed Hastings enterprise is bragging this week for taking DreamWorks away from HBO, Amazon has secured a deal that might be much more important in the long run. Right now, Fox is providing Amazon with as little content as possible. Most of the aforementioned shows are already available on Amazon in pay-per-episode form, while Hulu Plus subscribers have been able to stream every season of Buffy, Ally McBeal, Arrested Development and The X-Files for several months. This shouldn't come as too big of a shock; after all, Fox is a co-owner of Hulu. But it means that when the Amazon deal goes into effect, 24 and The Wonder Years will be the only shows that you won't find anywhere else.

If looked at only in the present, this deal is kind of sad. It wouldn't have been too difficult for Fox to provide a few additional exclusives. That ‘70s Show (one of Fox's strongest shows) is doing too well in syndication to be streamed online. But what about Prison Break, which is already on Hulu? Boston Public and New York Undercover are two of the few Fox dramas that lasted four seasons – why aren't they on the initial list? Party of Five and The O.C. seem like no-brainers to me, but they are nowhere to be found in Amazon's announcement. Viewers can still pay to stream select episodes of Party of Five, however. House, Fox's biggest drama next to 24, was also absent from the list. While Hulu Plus subscribers can currently watch all of season seven at no additional charge, Amazon users still have to pay $1.99 per episode. This might make you wonder if

While Netflix may very well earn a few subscribers for securing a deal with DreamWorks, the company has argued that consumers don't use the service for new movies. If that's true, then why should I care about this deal? I already own Minority Report, Cast Away and How to Train Your Dragon (three of DreamWorks' best films). I've already seen Shrek and Kung Fu Panda. Those are the “old” movies. So why should I care about this streaming deal? Television is different. While movies are typically a standalone experience, TV often requires – and frequently inspires – viewers to see every episode. Thus, a full season of Glee could be worth far more to Amazon than a selection of old DreamWorks movies will be worth to Netflix. (Note that I say this not as a fan of Glee but as someone who has