As of now, an Amazon Prime subscription is priced at $14.99 (approximately Rs. 1,200) per month.
Amazon will start incorporating advertisements within their Prime Video streaming services soon. A report citing the company’s intimation to Amazon Prime users in the US claims that the standard Amazon Prime plan will show ads while streaming movies and TV shows. This, however, is not a sudden move. The company announced the move in September this year and stated that it would go into effect in early 2024. Now, the action has a date of commencement in select regions. Amazon has not yet confirmed when this limited ads feature will be effective for Prime Video users in India.
A report by The Verge claims that Amazon said in an email to customers in the US that starting January 29, advertisements will be included in movies and TV shows streamed on its Prime Video platform. The move will let them continue investing in great content and increase the amount spent over time, the company claimed in the cited email.
Amazon also noted in the email that they intended to have significantly fewer advertisements than broadcast television and other streaming TV providers. They explained that the current price of Prime membership remains unchanged for all Amazon Prime users in the US and they did not need to take any additional action because of this move.
Starting January 29, users who wish to maintain an ad-free experience on Prime Video can upgrade their existing Amazon Prime plan by paying an additional $2.99 (approximately Rs. 250) per month. The standard Amazon Prime subscription currently costs $14.99 (about Rs. 1,200). After January 29, users can continue with their older plan, occasionally featuring ads, or opt for the ad-free experience by paying $17.99 (roughly Rs. 1,500) each month.
It’s important to note that Prime Video membership can be purchased separately without the standard Amazon Prime plan. Presently, the standalone Prime Video streaming service is available for $8.99 (around Rs. 750) per month. Following the introduction of limited ads, this standalone plan is expected to increase to $11.99 (approximately Rs. 1,000), according to the report. A separate report by The Guardian suggests that this change will also take effect in the UK and Germany from February 5.