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Jeff Bezos is getting into the TV game — not just selling them at his Amazon.com store but producing television pilots.
The giant online retailer is expected to post eight comedy pilots on its site — each free to view as Bezos pushes Amazon into yet another new area, putting in more direct competition with Netflix.
The shows — starring the likes of John Goodman and Bebe Neuwirth — were expected to debut today but were pushed back at the last minute.
Wall Street estimates the effort has cost Amazon, with annual sales of about $61 billion, up to $10 million.
The strategy is aimed at luring more of its 200 million customers to spend $79 a year on Prime, its premium shipping service, which also includes free streaming-video service and the Kindle lending library.
While the pilots will be free, those shows chosen for a full season will be available only to Prime members.
Roy Price, director of Amazon Studios, told The Post: “The production quality had to be really high; we have top people and terrific casts.”
Goodman stars in “Alpha House,” about four senators who live together. It is directed by Adam Bernstein of “Breaking Bad” fame.
Sony has made a pilot called “Zombieland,” based on its movie of the same name.
Amazon’s investment in original shows is part of a growing trend by over-the-top providers such as Netflix and Hulu to lessen their reliance on licensed studio product.
Netflix spent $100 million on “House of Cards.” Amazon said drama will figure in their next phase of development, after comedy and kids’ shows.
The success of these online players at drawing viewers could lessen the attraction of the pay-TV video bundle.
A group of online players from Microsoft to AOL and YouTube are promoting their own original video efforts and aggregating large audiences before advertisers at the end of the month.