Amazon has announced a significant change to its Prime Video streaming service, set to take effect on January 29. In a move aligning with other major streaming platforms, Amazon will introduce ad breaks within its Prime Video content, offering limited commercials during movies and TV shows. This development was initially disclosed to subscribers in September and is designed to sustain and expand investments in compelling content over time.
Despite the introduction of ads, Amazon emphasizes the commitment to keeping these interruptions significantly fewer than those on linear TV and other streaming services. The company assures that Prime membership costs will remain unaffected, with basic benefits continuing as usual. This global change will include regions like the UK, US, and India, where Prime membership costs are not expected to increase.
For those in India, the current cost of Amazon Prime remains at INR 299 monthly or INR 1499 annually. Additionally, Amazon offers a more affordable annual plan, Amazon Prime Lite, at INR 799. Beyond Prime Video, Amazon also provides Freevee, a free ad-supported streaming service. Live event content such as sports and content on Amazon Freevee will continue to feature advertising.