Amazon supercharges Freevee with Prime Video originals, picks up ‘Mock The Week’ for US

The Grand Tour

Amazon is aiming to supercharge its Freevee service with 100 Prime Video originals set to become available via the streamer, while the retail giant has also greenlit a US version of UK show Mock The Week.

Shows including Reacher, A League of Their Own and The Grand Tour will become available on Freevee in the US, alongside Sylvie’s Love, Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls and Modern Love.

Shows such as The Wheel Of Time will also become available, with their release dates designed to increase interest in new seasons of the show’s available on Prime Video. All the shows will remain on Prime Video without ads.

Amazon has also rebranded its Freevee Originals FAST channel on Freevee as Amazon Originals, with a “broader selection” of Amazon originals now available.

Reacher

The news, which emerged prior to Amazon’s NewFront presentation, follows similar moves from Paramount and its Pluto TV service in using FAST and AVOD offerings to funnel viewers towards paid for streaming services.

Mock The Week & finding reality’s GOAT

Freevee has also ordered a US version of UK format Mock The Week, which sees two teams of comedians taking a satirical swipe at current news, pop culture and world events.

The Daily Show‘s recently departed host Trevor Noah will executive produce the US series with format co-creator Dan Patterson, with production beginning in 2024. The host will be announced at a later date.

“Two things I’m most passionate about in life are paying my landlord and making people laugh. We could all use a little bit more laughter as we continue to navigate today’s crazy world,” said Noah.

The show ran for 21 seasons on the BBC in the UK, ending last year. The US version is from Angst Productions, which was behind the UK original, as well as Day Zero Productions, Mainstay Entertainment and Amazon Studios. BBC Studios sells the format.

“For years, Mock The Week delivered a witty spin on the news—entertaining a broad cross-section of the UK audience through funny conversations, one-liners, and improv comedy,” said Lauren Anderson, head of AVOD Originals, unscripted, and targeted programming at Amazon Studios.

Lauren Anderson

“In one episode, you can catch up on weekly headlines, hear multiple points of view on a topic, and find your next favourite stand-up comedian.”

Freevee has also greenlit The Goat, a competition series “that will feature some of the buzziest names from the last 25 years of reality television”, according to the company.

Fourteen contestants will take up residence in GOAT Manor, where they will face a series of mental, physical and social challenges in a bid to win a cash prize. The series started production last month in Atlanta and is from Propagate and Amazon Studios.

Finally, Freevee has ordered a third season of Bosch: Legacy and a two-season renewal for Judy Justice, as well as Justice On Trial, created by and featuring Judge Judy Sheindlin in a courtroom docudrama.

The show is the third series created and executive produced by Sheindlin for Amazon Freevee and will be part of its Justice brand, which also includes Tribunal Justice.