Amazon's $250 million bet on Jeremy Clarkson's new show is already starting to pay off

[kevindavis007]

Amazon is rumored to have paid about $250 million for "The Grand Tour," a new series featuring Jeremy Clarkson and his former team that produced BBC's "Top Gear."


And based on early results, that investment is already starting to pay off.


According to Amazon, The Grand Tour's debut episode last Friday was the biggest premiere ever on Amazon Prime Video. The company declined to share specific numbers, only saying it attracted "millions" of viewers, but said it broke the previous record held by "The Man in The High Castle."


It's also become the top rated TV show or movie on IMDb, with an overall rating of 9.6 and over 10,000 votes, while getting a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Amazon and a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes.


But perhaps what Amazon is most happy about is The Grand Tour's ability to draw in new Prime members. Amazon said it saw the second most number of new Prime member sign-ups on the day of the show's debut — after Prime Day, its big annual sales holiday that draws tens of millions of shoppers to its site.


Amazon doesn't disclose the actual number of new sign-ups from either Prime Day or last Friday, so it's hard to tell how big an impact it had on the total number of Prime members. Still, it's an important development because it proves Amazon's investment in Prime Video is having a direct impact on the growth of its Prime members, who tend to spend more on Amazon than non-Prime members.


Read More: http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-250-million-bet-on-the-grand-tour-paying-off-2016-11

[driftdiver]

It was great.  The image quality was awesome.

[Frank Cannon]

These three idiots are one of the major reasons I joined up with Prime. Hoping to get a chance to watch the new show tonight.

(I am the Stig)

[kevindavis007]

It was great.  The image quality was awesome.

Much better than the new Top Gear..

[driftdiver]

These three idiots are one of the major reasons I joined up with Prime. Hoping to get a chance to watch the new show tonight.

(I am the Stig)

I didn't think k they could do it.   Parts were a little scripted but it worked.

[kevindavis007]

These three idiots are one of the major reasons I joined up with Prime. Hoping to get a chance to watch the new show tonight.

(I am the Stig)

You will like it.. 


How was it in England when you where driving??

[driftdiver]

Much better than the new Top Gear..

Wasn't even close.

[Cripplecreek]

Funny I was just thinking about him while watching the incar of Sabine Schmitz making a lap around the Nurbergring.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufzdL1JaEKM

[Frank Cannon]

Much better than the new Top Gear..

I think getting hit in the head with a brick is better than the revamped Top Gear. Whoever told Matt LeBlanc he can act should be thrown in jail.

[Frank Cannon]

You will like it.. 


How was it in England when you where driving??

Terrible. They kept hiding the steering wheel on the passenger side.

[kevindavis007]

Wasn't even close.

Indeed.. BBC Screwed up big time.

[kevindavis007]

I think getting hit in the head with a brick is better than the revamped Top Gear. Whoever told Matt LeBlanc he can act should be thrown in jail.

I tried to watch it, but the combination of Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc kinda ruined the show.

[Frank Cannon]

I tried to watch it, but the combination of Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc kinda ruined the show.

I will watch pretty much anything car related. I used to watch Motor Week on PBS and they were test driving Roadmasters, but those two new hosts on TG were so bad I could only make it through one and a half episodes. Just terrible. I think everyone agrees because the pulled the plug on it. You cannot recreate the chemistry of Clarkson, May and Hampster.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOm_HqCHMRg

[Cripplecreek]

I tried to watch it, but the combination of Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc kinda ruined the show.

LeBlanc was fine as a guest but horible as a host.

Jay Leno's garage is coming to TV finally on CNBC. Looks like a replay Wednesday at 7

[kevindavis007]

I will watch pretty much anything car related. I used to watch Motor Week on PBS and they were test driving Roadmasters, but those two new hosts on TG were so bad I could only make it through one and a half episodes. Just terrible. I think everyone agrees because the pulled the plug on it. You cannot recreate the chemistry of Clarkson, May and Hampster.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOm_HqCHMRg

Agreed.. Those three have chemistry..  From what I have heard, it is still on, but Evans has left the show and LeBlanc is still there.

[kevindavis007]

LeBlanc was fine as a guest but horible as a host.

Jay Leno's garage is coming to TV finally on CNBC. Looks like a replay Wednesday at 7

Jay could have been a perfect host for Top Gear on History.

[Cripplecreek]

Jay could have been a perfect host for Top Gear on History.

With the American version of Top Gear I would have replaced the actor with Leno, kept Tanner and given Rutledge one more season to get it together.

[DB]

I enjoyed it. Not much to look forward to on TV anymore.

[Frank Cannon]

Just watched it. It was even better than I thought it would be. Absolutely hilarious.

We need to change the title of this thread to Conversation Street.

[Frank Cannon]

The Grand Tour premier, OTOH, was great. And the preview of upcoming episodes - fantastic.

It sure does. No more socialist BBC's skimpy budgets anymore. They have some real Bezos cash to work with now.

[kevindavis007]

[uglybiker]

It sure does. No more socialist BBC's skimpy budgets anymore. They have some real Bezos cash to work with now.

[Suppressed]

Funny I was just thinking about him while watching the incar of Sabine Schmitz making a lap around the Nurbergring.

Riding the 'ring with Sabine is near the top of my dream/bucket list.

[DB]

Anyone see episode 2? It was a bit of a let down, but not so bad that it wasn't enjoyable.

Yep. Time will tell.

[ABX]

Other than 'the American' (the replacement for the Stig), it is a very good show. A lot to like from the original Top Gear without the filters and a bigger budget.