Both shows will be available exclusively to subscribers of Amazon's $79-per-year Prime service through the summer. In addition access to 18,000 streaming videos, the service gives subscribers complimentary two-day shipping on Amazon orders, and access to a library of Kindle e-books, including the entire Harry Potter series, at no additional charge.
Netflix currently does not stream The West Wing or Fringe.
The deal with Warner Bros. also brings the shows Dark Blue, Alcatraz and The Whole Truth to Amazon Instant Video for the first time.
Amazon has been steadily signing licensing agreements with major studios throughout the year. Last month, the online retailer signed a deal with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios to bring films like Silence of the Lambs, Dances with Wolves and The Terminator to its catalog. The company also has licensing deals with Discovery, Fox, CBS, NBC, Sony, Viacom and Warner Bros., among others.
Still, Amazon has some way to go to compete toe-to-toe with longer-running streaming subscription services in the U.S. such as Netflix and Hulu Plus. And if earlier reports are true, Google and Verizon could be entering the arena later this year as well.