As increasingly more streaming companies get bitten by the promoting bug, plainly Apple TV+ could quickly be the final bastion of ad-free programming — not less than at an inexpensive subscription value.
Whereas Netflix is arguably the most important streamer to undertake an ad-supported tier, it’s removed from alone. Others like Paramount Plus and Hulu have been working ad-supported tiers lengthy earlier than the concept was even a gleam within the eyes of Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, and because the streaming big has taken the plunge, almost each different massive participant from Disney Plus to Max (previously HBO Max) have joined the celebration.
Now, it appears prefer it’s Amazon’s flip. After saying in September that adverts have been coming to Prime Video in “early 2024,” the corporate started quietly notifying subscribers this week that it will likely be flipping the swap on January 29, 2024.
Nevertheless, in contrast to Netflix, Amazon isn’t providing a lower-priced ad-supported tier. As a substitute, it plans to run adverts on the Prime Video service that we’re all having fun with right this moment — with out dropping the worth in any approach.
As a substitute, if you wish to keep away from adverts on Amazon Prime Video, you’ll must pay $2.99 monthly greater than you’re paying proper now to improve to the “ad-free” plan.
That’s not solely on prime of your Amazon Prime membership, which incorporates Amazon Prime Video at no additional cost but in addition for many who have opted for the standalone $9 month-to-month Prime Video-only plan.
In different phrases, ad-free Prime Video by itself will go as much as $12 monthly, whereas Amazon Prime members might want to tack on the additional $3 by tacking on an add-on.
To be truthful, most folk get Amazon Prime Video as a part of an Amazon Prime subscription, which incorporates tons of different advantages. Relying on the way you view Amazon Prime and why you employ it, Prime Video could also be little greater than a “value-added” secondary service. That’s a far cry from Netflix or Disney Plus, the place the one purpose to subscribe is the content material.
Nonetheless, it could be laborious for loyal Prime Video prospects to see this as something greater than a slap within the face. Whereas it’s successfully a value enhance, the way during which Amazon is doing this makes it really feel a bit extra harsh. The corporate would have arguably been higher off upping the worth of its normal plan after which sneaking the ad-free model in beneath that.
The excellent news is that Amazon seemingly desires to keep away from turning Prime Video into an enormous promoting platform. From the start, the corporate has mentioned it desires to “have meaningfully fewer adverts than linear TV and different streaming TV suppliers” and guarantees that content material will “embody restricted commercials.”
Beginning January 29, Prime Video films and TV reveals will embody restricted commercials. This may enable us to proceed investing in compelling content material and preserve rising that funding over a protracted time frame. We purpose to have meaningfully fewer adverts than linear TV and different streaming TV suppliers.
Amazon
We’ll have to attend and see what that truly means, however not less than you’ll nonetheless have the ability to keep away from adverts on content material you particularly pay for; Amazon has confirmed that “commercials received’t be included on content material that’s rented or bought.”
Amazon additionally provides that the promoting received’t be coming to prospects in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Mariana Islands, and American Samoa “presently.”
Adverts will start showing in Amazon Prime Video content material on January 29, 2024, within the US, with the UK, Canada, and Germany following every week in a while February 5. Prime Video prospects in France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, and Australia can even get adverts later this yr, though a particular date for these nations has not but been introduced.
In the event you’ve already determined you don’t wish to endure adverts on Amazon Prime Video however want to preserve the service, Amazon has supplied directions on the right way to Pre-Register for Prime Video Advert Free so you’ll be able to opt-in now and guarantee no adverts will present up on January 29. Amazon notes that this works successfully like a pre-order, so that you received’t be billed till January 29, when it truly takes impact.