Ads coming to prime! Must pay more for no ads versions!

[ps3bd_owner]

I only sign up for Prime when I get a free trial, but yeah, this sucks for loyal subscribers.

Moreover, I have an ad-free internet experience thanks to adblockers and hide element add-ons. Heh

[bookcase]

I do nearly all of my shopping on Amazon, and never have to worry about meeting a minimum, so I'll continue to pay for Prime as long as I can afford it. I won't, however, pay more for something that always has been and should be free for subscribers.

That said, I find little value in the Prime video they offer, which is mostly just as gluttonous and bad as Netflix. I won't watch ads in movies or shows, so all this means for me is that I'll just skip their content. I mostly do anyway. Still, between price hikes, higher prices for best picture quality, and forced ads, there will come a day when I dispose of all streaming platforms.

[ps3bd_owner]

Originally Posted by bookcase

I do nearly all of my shopping on Amazon, and never have to worry about meeting a minimum, so I'll continue to pay for Prime as long as I can afford it. I won't, however, pay more for something that always has been and should be free for subscribers.

That said, I find little value in the Prime video they offer, which is mostly just as gluttonous and bad as Netflix. I won't watch ads in movies or shows, so all this means for me is that I'll just skip their content. I mostly do anyway. Still, between price hikes, higher prices for best picture quality, and forced ads, there will come a day when I dispose of all streaming platforms.

Same.

When I use Prime (trials) it's generally for faster deliveries and don't even bother with their video/music streaming services as there are better options out there and free (e.g. YouTube with an adblocker ).

Streaming services were meant to be an all-in-one solution for customers and now it's worse than cable with all of them charging for their own streaming services.

And I don't buy digital stuff from Amazon or anyone as you don't actually own it, well, unless it's a website that offers it DRM-free like GOG (games) and Bandcamp (music). There's another one that sells lossless music without DRM, but I can't remember.

Meanwhile, Amazon still sells MP3s?

[paulboland]

Note
Customers in Republic of Ireland, Channel Island, and Isle of Man won’t see ads in their experience at this time.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html

[ctujackbauer]

I suppose this fits into the "well, obviously" category of streaming subscription problems. Give people less for the same price or less for more, then people cancel. Who knew?

LAD Bible - People are cancelling Amazon Prime subscriptions after it makes major change to viewing experience

[icy hot]

Well, it worked for me. Cancelled. And I'll probably order a lot less other items from Amazon as well.

[drb999]

Such BS. Make a lower tier for people that don’t mind ads for a cheaper price instead of making us pay more to keep what we already get.

[kevin87]

Originally Posted by ps3bd_owner

Same.

When I use Prime (trials) it's generally for faster deliveries and don't even bother with their video/music streaming services as there are better options out there and free (e.g. YouTube with an adblocker ).

Streaming services were meant to be an all-in-one solution for customers and now it's worse than cable with all of them charging for their own streaming services.

And I don't buy digital stuff from Amazon or anyone as you don't actually own it, well, unless it's a website that offers it DRM-free like GOG (games) and Bandcamp (music). There's another one that sells lossless music without DRM, but I can't remember.

Meanwhile, Amazon still sells MP3s?

The thing I don't understand about Amazon is they have so many services already. Why not introduce a paid tier on Freevee which gives you access to Prime shows with ads? Or introduce a lower priced tier on Prime for ads. It's like I said a few months ago, why does everybody keep adding ad-supported plans but then make you pay more for no ads, the new ad-based one should be added LOWER than the other since they're also getting money from the ads.

I will only buy music from Qobuz, or 7digital if they have something Qobuz happens to not have. They're both DRM free and offer FLAC.

[Matt89]

I also just got the email this morning. Christ, doesn't Amazon already make enough money? They already increased their prices, and now if you don't want ads you can pay an ADDITIONAL $2.99 (which is how much it'll cost Canadians)??? This is such a scam.

F*ck Amazon.

We're basically going back to cable TV with forced commercials. What a joke.

[Nailwraps]

I get why they're doing it, but this is why people should not be dependent on streaming.

Take it from someone who's a big supporter of physical media and regular linear TV; streaming should not be the only way to watch your shows and movies.

[GaragePoet]

i wish we could ditch the Prime Video altogether and just have a two-day delivery option, but i guess if they didn't force people to have it then they'd really be hurting for subscribers

[crutzulee]

My wife just flipped me the email. I can't say that it means much to me. I'm certainly not going to cancel PRIME as I use it almost daily for purchases as a guy that hates to shop.
Still not clear if these ads are to be simply before the feature - which I could live with- or as an actual break in the middle.
I could actually live with the latter as well for the majority of my PRIME watching, which consists of stand up comedy specials and the odd documentary on my phone. I would never watch a movie in my HT that had a commercial in the middle...if I find that this is the case, I'll probably end up forking over the $3...sigh..

[salz4life]

I don't watch much on Prime Video anyway, so it probably won't bother me. I use the 2 day shipping so I will just keep everything the same.

[SpaceBlackKnight]

While I stick to physical media whenever possible, I dabble in streaming services for titles with unique versions/transfers not seen elsewhere. There's also several titles that aren't on BD or definitely won't make it there anytime soon. I own some that could be really scarce but the rest I rent if I will only watch it no more than once.

This is mostly no different than other providers ad free plans, some of which cost more than the standard Prime plan (which is currently the best value overall) alone. While the single Prime Video plan that runs approx. $9.99 will be affected by this, one might as well settle for the Freevee content (which there is quite a wide variety of) or check out TubiTV and Roku Channel if they don't want the plans+Ad Free addon. At least they're not charging several dollars extra for a 4k bracket and cracking down on user sharing (Netflix), plus removing legacy content that marketing analysts claim have "low viewership" over new controversial offerings (both Netflix and Disney).

Originally Posted by crutzulee

My wife just flipped me the email. I can't say that it means much to me. I'm certainly not going to cancel PRIME as I use it almost daily for purchases as a guy that hates to shop.
Still not clear if these ads are to be simply before the feature - which I could live with- or as an actual break in the middle.
I could actually live with the latter as well for the majority of my PRIME watching, which consists of stand up comedy specials and the odd documentary on my phone. I would never watch a movie in my HT that had a commercial in the middle...if I find that this is the case, I'll probably end up forking over the $3...sigh..

Ads generally run at the start, middle, and end of programs. If you have any device connected to a TV, you can just switch the TV inputs until the ads finish (though some have a skip option after 5 seconds). PC/smartphone/tablet are SOL as the PC adblockers don't work for built in HTML based video content while the tablets/phones want you only through their apps.

[CaptMixTape]

I totally agree that the 2.99 add free option sucks, and I feel that now that they are going to get people to pay extra for ad free, the next logical step will be the annual price hike for this "perk". Withing 5 years I would guess it will be closer to $5 to $8 a month for add free.

I only watch 3 or 4 shows on amazon, all originals, Reacher, the Boys, Jack Ryan and Carnival Row (which is no more) and thankfully rings of power was terrible, so I'm going to just take the ads and hope they aren't more than 1 or 2 for an hour episode. This is the world we live in now since everyone thought they would be the next Netflix, now they all struggle for a small piece of a dwindling pie.

[bookcase]

Amazon had a 6-episode series that I wanted to watch. The ads are definitely annoying, but there were only 3 in each hour-long episode and they lasted about 30 seconds each.

[drb999]

Originally Posted by bookcase

Amazon had a 6-episode series that I wanted to watch. The ads are definitely annoying, but there were only 3 in each hour-long episode and they lasted about 30 seconds each.

That’s not so bad. It could be worse. We are paying to keep ours ad free though.

[Samus Aran]

Anyone watch a movie yet on Prime? Do they stick random ads throughout the movie like Hulu with ads does? Peacock and Paramount have ads at the front but don't interrupt the movie.

[mwynn]

Amazon Prime Video Ad Tier Sparks Class Action Lawsuit From Subscribers
The lawsuit takes aim at the e-commerce giant turning on ads for Prime Video users and charging them an additional fee for its ad-free tier.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/bu...0f0740c6f56c40

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by Samus Aran

Anyone watch a movie yet on Prime? Do they stick random ads throughout the movie like Hulu with ads does? Peacock and Paramount have ads at the front but don't interrupt the movie.

There was 1:30 ads before the movie. Then a 30 second ad in the middle.