As part of its effort to grow the entire category market for books, music, and dvd’s, Amazon is testing all sorts of methods to attract new audiences to writers and artists. All creative types, media outlets and publishers should be watching closely to see which of these methods work, so they can climb on board.

In one such effort, they are launching their own web-based talk show program to be hosted by Bill Maher. It will actually run during the summer. (Try this link for more information.) Amazon is defraying part of the production cost by having the show be sponsored by UPS, who will have a live commercial that consists of real-life footage of an Amazon customer receiving a delivery.

NY Times: Heeere’s Bill Maher, Live on Amazon by Saul Hansell

"We can give customers authentic and very provocative insight with the
artists that they know or that they may not know," said Kathy Savitt,
an Amazon vice president responsible for the Web site’s content. The
end result, Amazon hopes, will be that viewers will "want to sample
them, discover them and actually buy them,…

"All of our original programming," she added, "will be to offer these innovative and interactive ways for customers to discover digital content, artists and, ultimately, products."