Get CBS News on demand from Amazon

Amazon.com, the seller of all things, has begun to create an inventory-free future — at least when it comes to DVDs.

The online retailer said Wednesday it would offer thousands of hours of CBS News content to customers through a build-your-own DVD service.

Developed by Amazon subsidiary CustomFlix Labs, the service allows customers to select and create customized DVDs from up to 10 CBS News segments or 90 minutes of video.

CBS News said it planned to offer content not widely available to the public before, including segments from "60 Minutes," classic and current "Evening News" broadcasts and "CBS Long-Form Documentaries" produced in the past 10 years.

While film and TV networks already sell their most popular titles online, the service erases the financial risk associated with manufacturing DVDs and holding inventory for lesser-known works that might not sell quickly, if at all.

CustomFlix managing director Dana Lopiccolo-Giles said the service also enables CBS to offer a wider selection of content to customers. "There's some real depth and incredible stories that really weren't available before," he said.

CustomFlix first announced in April that it would offer film studios and TV networks the chance to sell obscure or niche titles through an on-demand DVD manufacturing service.

Called the Media Gateway program, CustomFlix encodes films and TV shows in a digital format and archives the content for future orders.

The service has enabled TV networks to offer up niche shows for sale on DVD, including NBC's Westerminster dog show, plus the "Antique Roadshow" and "Nova" for PBS.

Amazon has invested $954 million in technology and content over the past three years, despite waning profits.

Amazon's shares closed Wednesday at $34.63, down $1.03.

Monica Soto Ouchi: 206-515-5632 or msoto@seattletimes.com