Amazon Prime, CBS All Access and ‘The Big Bang Theory’

UPDATE 6/23/23: The FTC this week filed a lawsuit against Amazon accusing it of using manipulative design features called “dark patterns” to trick millions of consumers into enrolling in Prime and then making it difficult for consumers to cancel their auto-renewing memberships. Our original article follows.

When it comes to streaming service CBS All Access, “all access” doesn’t mean “access to all.”

TINA.org reader Gary W. learned this the hard way. He said he ordered CBS All Access through his Amazon Prime account based on representations that he would have access to all 12 seasons of “The Big Bang Theory.” He would only make it through season one. When he tried to move onto season two, he said, a message informed him that the content was “currently unavailable.”

Looking for answers, Gary called Amazon. He said Amazon told him over the phone that “all episodes after [season] one are unavailable.” This was news to Gary, who told TINA.org that nothing in Amazon’s advertising for CBS All Access suggested that all 12 seasons of “The Big Bang Theory” aren’t available to subscribers, who pay $5.99 a month for the service.

Gary recommended that we check out the Prime video channel for CBS All Access, specifically the top part, which features “The Big Bang Theory” among three titles without any indication that not all seasons are available with the service (see above). In fact, visitors must scroll down the page to a list of popular TV shows and hover over “The Big Bang Theory” to learn that the only season CBS All Access subscribers can stream is season 12.

We’re not sure why Amazon told Gary over the phone that season one was the only one he could watch with CBS All Access. According to Amazon.com, seasons one through 11 are those “currently unavailable.” The site gives the following reason:

Our agreements with the content provider don’t allow purchases of this title at this time.

Amazon did not respond to a media inquiry by TINA.org.

One thing’s for sure: If you’re looking to binge-watch all 12 seasons of “The Big Bang Theory” before the show calls it quits this spring, you’re going to have to look elsewhere.

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