Amazon Prime Video to introduce advertisements in its content from next year

Amazon plans to introduce advertisements to its Prime Video streaming service in 2024, aiming to generate more revenue for creating TV shows and films. Beginning early next year, customers in the UK, US, Germany, and Canada will see ads unless they opt for an additional "ad-free" subscription at an extra cost. Amazon assures its customers that Prime Video still offers compelling value despite the inclusion of ads. This move follows similar actions by competitors such as Disney+ and Netflix. The ads will also be introduced in France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, and Australia later in 2024. Amazon plans to roll out the "ad-free" subscription tier for Prime subscribers in the US at an additional $2.99 per month. Pricing for other countries will be announced in due course. Currently, the UK subscription fee for Prime, which includes free one-day delivery and access to streaming services, is £8.99 per month or £79 per year. Amazon states that the limited ads on Prime Video will have significantly fewer than traditional TV and other streaming providers. The company intends to inform Prime members a few weeks before introducing ads, providing instructions on how to sign up for the ad-free option. However, even with the ad-free subscription, live event broadcasts like sports matches will still include advertisements. Last year, there was a decline in paid-for video streaming subscriptions in the UK by two million, from 30.5 million to 28.5 million, as people sought alternative ways to manage the rising cost of living. Although demand increased during the Christmas period, people quickly looked for ways to reduce expenses afterward, according to Kantar analysts.