Topline
Amazon announced on Monday that it has acquired exclusive US rights to a connected TV app TikTok, allowing Amazon Fire TV users to stream videos from the popular social media app to their TVs.
An Amazon Fire 4K TV box and remote control, taken July 13, 2017. (Photo by Neil Godwin/T3 … [+]
T3 Magazine / Future via Getty Images
Highlights
Amazon declined Forbes’ request to comment on whether the company and TikTok reached some sort of revenue-sharing arrangement with the deal, or whether Amazon purchased exclusive rights to TikTok programming.
The TV app allows users in the US and Canada to scroll through TikTok using their Fire TV remotes or via hands-free Alexa.
Although the rights to the connected TV app are exclusive, Apple users can still stream TikTok videos to their TVs by mirroring their iOS or macOS devices to their Apple TVs when the mobile app or website is open.
The TikTok app is also available via Google TV and Android TV, but only in the UK, France and Germany.
Key Context
Amazon announced its third quarter results last week, with stock prices fall after the company posted returns below expectations. In September, the company launched its first line of smart TVs, offering the Omni and 4 Series, which are integrated with the Fire TV interface. Meanwhile, TikTok COO Vanessa Pappas announcement in September, the app surpassed one billion monthly active users.
Tangent
Irish rock band U2 recently joined TikTok, adding sounds from some of their biggest hits to the platform.
