Amazon's IMDb Launches Free Streaming Service Freedive

The service, which will offer free TV shows and movies, will be available via the web and Amazon Fire TV devices.

Amazon is making a push into the free streaming-video space.

The e-commerce company's IMDb division on Thursday launched Freedive, a streaming-video channel for Fire TV devices offering free, ad-supported TV shows and movies.

Freedive is separate from Amazon's Prime Video subscription, which either comes bundled with a Prime subscription or can be bought separately and offers ad-free streaming and originals like Jack Ryan and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Also available via the web, Freedive features non-current TV shows such as Fringe, Heroes, The Bachelor and Without a Trace. It also has a library of movies, including Foxcatcher, Memento, The Illusionist and The Last Samurai.

"Customers already rely on IMDb to discover movies and TV shows and decide what to watch," said IMDb founder and CEO Col Needham. "With the launch of IMDb Freedive, they can now also watch full-length movies and TV shows on IMDb and all Amazon Fire TV devices for free. We will continue to enhance IMDb Freedive based on customer feedback and will soon make it available more widely, including on IMDb's leading mobile apps."

IMDb has offered shortform video series, trailers and celebrity interviews for some time. While some of IMDb's original series are available via Freedive, its launch expands the database into Hollywood-produced content. After years of growth in the subscription-streaming space, ad-supported video is on the rise. Roku launched its free Roku Channel in 2018 and has programmed it with licensed films and TV shows. YouTube has also made a push into ad-supported original programming and events like Will Smith's The Jump.

Freedive offers Amazon's X-Ray technology, which allows viewers to access IMDb-powered additional information about a project or its stars.