Amazon has announced plans to begin placing “limited ads” on TV shows and movies streaming on the company’s Prime Video streaming platform, to allow the e-commerce giant to “continue investing in engaging content.” According Amazon press releaseAds will first be introduced to Prime Video content in the US, UK, Germany and Canada at an unmentioned date in “early 2024”, with France, Italy, Spain, Mexico and Australia to follow. later that year.
Amazon says it has no plans to change the current price of its Prime memberships in 2024, and Prime members will be notified of the change several weeks before the ad injections begin, along with details for signing up for the ad-free option. US-based Prime members will be able to return to an ad-free experience for an additional $2.99 per month on top of their existing subscription. Prime memberships in the US cost $14.99 per month, or $139 per year if paid annually. Pricing for the ad-free option for other countries will be shared “at a later date.”
The introduction of ads comes at a time when Amazon is cutting costs across the company and comes as prices increase and ad-supported tiers launch on competing streaming services.
