Amazon Prime Video on Monday began airing commercials on its streaming service for users who declined to pay an additional $2.99 per month for a new ad-free option.
announcement In its September switchover, Amazon noted it was increasing its investment in Prime Video, which has dozens of movies, TV shows, Amazon Originals, premium channels and some sports programming. The $2.99 additional fee, or the addition of limited ads for users who choose not to pay, allows Amazon to continue “investing in engaging content,” the company said at the time.
Amazon claimed it aims to deliver “significantly less advertising” than terrestrial TV and other streaming providers. The ads will begin on Monday for Prime Video users in the US, UK, Germany and Canada, with France, Italy, Spain, Mexico and Australia to follow later this year.
The move follows a string of other streaming companies, including Netflix and Disney+. Moved to tiered subscription and an increase in subscription fees. Streaming services like Hulu, Paramount+, and Peacock also offer ad-supported plans.
Prime Video is included in the Amazon Prime subscription and costs users $15 per month or $139 per year. It also comes as a standalone subscription for $9 per month, except for the new $2.99 ad-free option.
Amazon and analysts don’t expect the move to drive mass users away from the streaming service, but a growing number of U.S. consumers are signaling growing subscription fatigue. as reported According to the Wall Street Journal.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
