Signing Jeremy Clarkson's new show was "very, very, very expensive," Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos admitted but said the former "Top Gear" team should help the online retail giant be part of "a golden age of television."
Speaking to The Telegraph, Bezos said he's "very excited" about the new motoring show for Amazon Prime although he didn't say if he's met Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.
"We have a lot of things in the pipeline, which I think viewers in the UK and around the world are going to love. And I think Clarkson's new show is going to be one of those."
The 51-year-old tech billionaire didn't disclose how much Amazon spent to sign Jeremy Clarkson's new show. But as Franchise Herald reported last week, the ex "Top Gear" team were reportedly given £160 million ($250 million) to sign on the dotted line.
"They're worth a lot, and they know it," Bezos said.
"'Top Gear' was a global hit for the BBC, generating an estimated £50 million a year, and Amazon will be hoping that its new show will replicate that success," The Guardian said.
Before the announcement, speculation was rife that Clarkson, May and Hammond were going to sign with online streaming giant Netflix. This was preceded by a non-compete clause from the trio's BBC contract which banned them from making a rival show in the UK, effectively ruling out ITV.
Executive producer Andy Wilman revealed earlier that one of the reasons they signed with Amazon is editorial freedom saying, "[they] don't need to be policed."
The new show, which has yet to receive a title, will be available to Amazon Prime subscribers for £79 ($99) per year. How it will make money for Amazon "remains to be seen," according to CNET.
As of this writing, no premiere date has been announced for Jeremy Clarkson's new show on Amazon which is expected to rival "Top Gear."
