Amazon Prime Video Starts Showing Ads to Users in the US

Amazon Prime Video has started to deliver video ads for its members in the US, which is a change from the ads-free streaming service. The decision is perceived as an attempt to increase revenue, especially given the hefty budget dedicated to high-maintenance productions on the platform.

According to the details, Amazon Prime Video subscribers will receive roughly 3.5 minutes of ads per hour aiming at a balance between revenue and user experience.

Amazon has started implementing the video ads for its Prime Video subscribers in the United States and is expected to spread across other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. However, it is unclear when ads will be introduced in these areas.

The ads will become visible in both the free-trial Prime Video and the ad-supported Prime Video subscription. Users who wish to have an ad-free experience can pay an extra $2.99 per month.

The ads on Amazon Prime Video will be between 15 seconds and 2 minutes long and can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of movies and series. The ads are designed to suit the viewing tendencies of users and thus, attract attention in a very effective way. The effect of this change on the platform’s performance will be tracked closely because it changes a long-standing practice, of an ad-free streaming experience for paid subscribers.