Amazon is considering an ad-supported tier for Prime Video, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke with The Wall Street Journal. While most people seem to get Prime Video as an included perk with Prime membership, it’s also available for $8.99 per month as a standalone subscription. Presumably, a new ad-supported tier would cost less than $8.99 per month and it’s probably safe to assume that Prime members would also start seeing the same ads in Prime video as subscribers of the ad-supported tier.
Amazon’s plans for an ad-supported tier of Prime Video are apparently “in the early stages and have been going on over the past several weeks,” so it seems like the change won’t be happening soon. That said, both Netflix and Disney+ have had success with their newer ad-supported tiers, so this may be a priority for Amazon. Netflix, specifically, has said that subscribers to its ad-supported tier generate more revenue for the company than those subscribed to the ad-free tiers.
Amazon already shows pre-roll ads for its own original content before some Prime Video streams. Those house ads are skippable by pressing the fast forward button, even though Amazon doesn’t always advertise that fact. It’s certainly safe to assume the upcoming ad expansion, should it roll out, won’t be skippable in the same way.
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If it has adds than it should be free, I refuse to pay for any TV that includes commercials
Amazon is going to give the ad version as a perk for Prime members and then charge $30 a month for the ad-free version. Amazon music isn’t even a perk anymore.
IKR?! It’s BS is what it is.
Amazon Music Prime still exists, which is a subset of all the music in Amazon Music Unlimited. I don’t remember the full music library ever being a Prime perk.
https://www.amazon.com/music/prime
The full library was never open for everyone, but you could listen to a full album that was available and skip, repeat, and play in any order as you pleased. That was great and in my opinion this new change in not allowing that anymore unless you pay more is disappointing and why I don’t use Amazon Prime Music anymore.
Amazon should tread carefully. Consumers are feeling the pinch and that could pinch back at companies that offer less for more.
Doesn’t Amazon already have a free tier? Its called Freevee. Just copy some of the prime content to that with ads, and done.
But they can make more money this way which is ultimately what they care more about.
So, what’s “Prime” about ad-laden programming? Sounds like network TV to me.
It doesn’t make a bit of sense to include ads with the Prime sub and nudge people out of paying for Prime. Offering a discounted Prime sub with ads that aligns with the Prime Video only sub options could make some sense.
This is what happens when you give corporations an inch. When they started showing Prime content previews before a video is played and showing ads on the Screensaver if you have Fire TV we should have all complained and rejected it.
Do people actually use prime video LOL
I have had prime for like 7 years and I probably only ever watched one video on there and it was the Borat sequel and it was just awful.