Prime Video confirms that the streamer will start putting ads on its platform in January 2024, while an ad-free option comes with a price. After originating in 2011, it has become a popular streaming service for Amazon users. Prime Video is home to some of the best original shows, including Reacher, Invincible, and The Boys.
Now, Prime Video is planning to pivot its model to include ads. This comes after subscribers were sent an email that confirmed the details of ads being implemented into the streaming service. According to The Verge, users will start seeing ads on the platform starting on January 29, 2024. To avoid ads, subscribers can opt to pay an additional $2.99/month.
Prime Video’s Model Change Is One Of Many Streaming Shifts In The Last Year
This Prime Video update is one of many unwelcome shifts, but it’s not the only streaming service to change its model. Last year, Netflix officially launched its lowest pay tier, an ad-supported plan for users. While this offered an alternative, more affordable cost compared to paying the entire $15.49/month plan, there was also criticism, as the ad-supported tier removed some of Netflix’s more popular show options. The premium streaming service Max (formerly HBO Max) also included an ad-supported option at the lowest pay tier, which is $9.99/month.
In addition to adding ad-supported options, streaming services like Prime Video have been increasing their prices throughout the last several years. Just this year, Disney+ and Hulu have increased their prices — some by significant amounts. Disney+’s updated prices came after the streamer had already increased its prices in December 2022, meaning that the cost of the service is $6 more expensive than it was in November 2022.
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Now that Prime Video will proceed with ads, it joins the growing list of streamers making these drastic changes. There has already been some backlash because of this implementation, so it will be interesting to see how the ad-supported model affects Prime Video. Subscribers now have so many options to pick from when it comes to streaming, but as prices are increased and advertisements are included, good options are becoming few and far between.
Read The Statement Sent To Prime Video Users About The Updated Model
Dear Prime member,
We are writing to you today about an upcoming change to your Prime Video experience. Starting January 29, Prime Video movies and TV shows will include limited advertisements. This will allow us to continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time. We aim to have meaningfully fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers. No action is required from you, and there is no change to the current price of your Prime membership. We will also offer a new ad-free option for an additional $2.99 per month* that you can sign up for here.
Prime is a very compelling value. Prime members enjoy a wide range of shopping, savings, and entertainment benefits, including:
– More than 300 million items are available with free Prime shipping and tens of millions of the most popular items are available with free Same-Day or One-Day Delivery.
– Access to exclusive and broad streaming video content (including Prime Video exclusives like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Boys,Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Citadel, The Wheel of Time, Reacher, and The Summer I Turned Pretty, as well as blockbuster movies such as Air, Creed III, Dungeons & Dragons, Candy Cane Lane with Eddie Murphy, and exclusive live sports including NFL Thursday Night Football).
– Access to Prime Video Channels, which provides an unmatched selection of subscription channels like Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, BET+, MGM+, ViX+, Crunchyroll, PBS KIDS, NBA League Pass, MLB.TV, and STARZ—with no extra apps to download, and no cable required. Customers only pay for the ones they want, and can cancel anytime.
– The ability to use your Prime shopping benefits—like fast, free delivery, a seamless checkout experience, 24/7 live chat support, and hassle-free returns—on online stores beyond Amazon.com with Buy with Prime.
– Exclusive deals and shopping events like Prime Day.
– Ad-free listening of 100 million songs and millions of podcast episodes with Amazon Music.
– Prescription medications as low as $1 per month and fast, free shipping from Amazon Pharmacy.
– Access to unlimited eligible generic prescription medications for only $5 per month (including free shipping) with RxPass from Amazon Pharmacy.
– High-quality health care from One Medical for only $9 per month (or $99 annually), with the option to add up to five additional memberships for the family for only $6 per month (or $66 annually) each.
– Free two-hour Fresh grocery delivery on orders over $100 (and delivery charges between $6.95 to $9.95 for orders less than $100), and in-store savings on select groceries at Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market stores across the U.S.
– Unlimited photo storage with Amazon Photos.
– Gaming benefits with Prime Gaming.
– More than 3,000 books and magazines with Prime Reading.
– A free, one-year Grubhub+ membership trial valued at $120 per year, offering unlimited $0 delivery fees on orders over $12.
And, you can expect additional features and programs added in the future for our Prime members.
As mentioned above, no action is required from you. If you wish to sign up for the ad-free option, you can click here. And, as always, if you have questions about your Prime membership, you can manage your account here.
Thank you for being a valued member of Amazon Prime.
Sincerely,
The Amazon Prime team
