Amazon Planning Video News App for Fire TV

Amazon.com is planning to launch a free ad-supported video news app for its Fire TV streaming video devices, featuring live and on-demand digital news programming from TV networks, say three people familiar with the discussions. Ultimately Amazon hopes to integrate the news app into its Alexa offering, the people said.

With the news app, the e-commerce giant hopes to make Fire TV more competitive with its biggest rival, Roku, for both viewers and advertising dollars. Roku sells streaming video devices and has a fast-growing advertising business built on its platform of streaming services, including the free, ad-supported Roku Channel. The Roku Channel’s programming includes news from the likes of ABC News and Yahoo.