Amazon strikes streaming deal with Universal

Amazon Prime's streaming catalog isn't as big as the one at Netflix, but it's working hard to catch up.

The retail giant has struck a deal with NBCUniversal Domestic TV Distribution that will add select Universal Pictures films to the Prime Instant Video collection. The deal will bring the total number of streamable videos to 9,000.

Among the new titles are Oscar winners "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Elizabeth," and "Gosford Park" as well as "Babe," "Notting Hill," "Being John Malkovich", "Fletch," and "Billy Elliott."

"We are very excited to offer Prime members popular Universal films at no additional cost," said Cameron Janes, director of Amazon Instant Video. "Our customers love movies and now we offer them more than 2,000 movies to choose from with Prime Instant Video."

Prime Instant Video is a streaming service the company offers to members of its Amazon Prime service. Members pay $79 per year for free two-day shipping as well as the free video. Even if they never take advantage of that once, the monthly cost for this streaming service works out to $6.50 per month, $1.50 less than Netflix’s least expensive service.