Amazon May Offer Free Prime Video Content Supported by Ads
According to The Wall Street Journal, Amazon is said to be in the initial stages of talks to launch a Prime Video tier that will be supported by ads. These discussions have been ongoing for a few weeks.
The report goes on to say that advertisers are eager for Amazon to jump in because other players like Netflix have recently added an ad-supported option to their offerings. Services like Hulu, Max, and Peacock have had ad-supported options since the beginning. The WSJ says ad buyers “want more access to high-quality movies and shows that have remained largely ad-free, content that often generates more buzz.”
Amazon has already taken steps to bring more ad-supported programming to the platform. Some of its programs contain advertisements based on product placement and its sports programs contain advertisements. Amazon is also reportedly in talks with Warner Bros., Discovery and Paramount about including ad-supported subscriptions through Prime Video Channels. Users can currently use Amazon’s channel feature to subscribe to a whole host of streaming services, which include the ad-free versions of Paramount+ and Max.
Amazon Prime Video currently costs $8.99 per month on its own or as part of an Amazon Prime membership. In comparison, Netflix’s standard package will cost you $9.99 per month, which unlocks HD video, dual screens and offline downloading. The company’s ad-supported tier is $6.99 per month, with offline downloads removed. It’s unclear when Amazon plans to roll out this ad-supported plan or what the pricing might look like, but it should help lower costs for those who want to subscribe to Amazon Prime Video and don’t mind ads.
