Amazon launching first original series

Online retailer Amazon is set to go head to head with rival Netflix as it finalises a deal for its first original series.

Amazon Studios, the company’s programming arm, is to pilot Browsers, a single camera comedy from 3 Arts Entertainment and David Javerbaum, a staff writer at The Daily Show.

The series was previously in development at CBS last year but didn’t make it through the development process.

Amazon has been ramping up its entry into the online television world; its studio arm has optioned a raft of comedies including Support, written by rock band Yacht, and Mansitters as well as a number of kids series including California Kidds, Angelo’s Sidekicks and Park Land.

However, Browsers is the first original pitch it has acquired from a traditional television writer and is expected to launch on its Amazon Instant Video service as well as membership site Amazon Prime.