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Amazon Prime Video to Include Ads Starting in 2024, Ad-Free Viewing Requires Additional Fee

  • Amazon Prime Video will start including ads in early 2024, unless users pay an additional $2.99/month for an ad-free plan. Ads will be introduced in the U.S., UK, Germany, Canada first.

  • The change is meant to allow Amazon to invest more in content over time. Ads will be limited and fewer than linear TV.

  • Live sports like Thursday Night Football will still have ads. This change does not impact the current pricing of Amazon Prime membership.

  • The move follows other streaming services like Disney+ and Hulu raising prices for ad-free plans. Netflix also saw strong sign-ups despite password sharing crackdowns.

  • Warner Bros. Discovery's new Max streaming service offers ad-supported and ad-free plans starting at $9.99/month. The ad changes will help Amazon invest more in content long-term.

foxbusiness.com
Relevant topic timeline:
The main topic is the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) lawsuit against Amazon for allegedly enrolling consumers into Amazon Prime without their consent and making it difficult to cancel subscriptions. The key points are: 1. The FTC alleges that Amazon used "dark patterns" to trick consumers into enrolling in Prime without their knowledge. 2. The complaint also claims that Amazon made the cancellation process for Prime difficult and confusing. 3. The FTC argues that Amazon's practices have cost consumers significant money and violated consumer protection laws. 4. Some argue that Amazon's dark patterns and complex cancellation process are reasonable and that consumers should be educated about the value of Prime. 5. The lawsuit raises broader questions about the trade-offs between convenience and privacy on the internet and the application of antitrust laws to the digital age.
The main topic is Amazon's upcoming Prime Big Deal Days in October 2023. Key points: 1. The event will take place in October, but specific dates have not been announced yet. 2. Prime subscribers will have access to exclusive savings on Amazon during the sale period. 3. Other retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and Target are likely to have their own competing sales during that time.
Main topic: Price increase for Amazon Music Unlimited plans for Prime members and customers on the family plan. Key points: 1. Amazon Music Unlimited Individual Plan for Prime members increasing from $8.99 to $9.99 per month. 2. Amazon Music Unlimited Family Plan increasing from $15.99 to $16.99 per month. 3. New prices effective immediately for new customers and after September 19 for existing customers. Hint on Elon Musk: Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, known for his ambitious projects and innovative ideas in the fields of electric vehicles and space exploration.
Amazon Music Unlimited has increased its pricing for Prime members by $1 per month, with annual plans also seeing a $10 to $16.99 increase. Other music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music have also recently raised their prices. The price increase is said to be for bringing more content and features to the platform, but it remains to be seen if this will differentiate Amazon Music Unlimited from its competitors.
Main topic: Amazon is offering influencers $25 per video for its "Inspire" shopping feed, but some creators are mocking the low rate. Key points: 1. Amazon is offering influencers $25 for each qualifying video featuring two or more Amazon products in the same category. 2. The company plans to cap the initiative at 35,000 videos, costing $875,000. 3. Some creators have criticized the low payment and mocked Amazon's offering on social media. More hints on Elon Musk are not provided in the given text.
Amazon's Fire tablets offer a convenient and affordable way to access Amazon's Prime services, with an interface specifically designed to deliver Amazon content. The tablets are made of cheap plastic but are still well-built, especially the Kids Editions. They are also expandable with microSD slots and can even access the Google Play Store. However, the tablets are less compelling for non-Amazon content consumers, as the selection is limited compared to iPad or standard Android tablets. The tech inside the tablets is outdated, resulting in some lag and lack of power. The operating system is also not regularly updated, and the warranties are relatively short. Additionally, Amazon's Special Offers ads can be bothersome, but they can be removed for an extra cost. Overall, the Fire tablets provide great value for their price, especially for Amazon Prime subscribers.
Amazon is increasing the minimum purchase for free shipping to $35 for non-Prime members in some markets, as the company aims to cut costs and potentially drive more sign-ups for its Prime membership program.
Main topic: Discount on security cameras for Amazon Prime members Key points: 1. Amazon is offering a bundle including the Blink Video Doorbell and three Blink Outdoor 4 security cameras for 61% off. 2. The bundle includes features like 1080p recording, two-way audio, motion detection, and night vision. 3. The deal is only available to Amazon Prime members and lasts until the end of the day.
Amazon's second Prime-related event for 2023, called Prime Big Deal Days, will take place on October 10 and 11, featuring early access deals for Prime members on various products including Apple AirPods Pro, Blink outdoor cameras, Kasa smart bulbs, Apple iPhone 15 cases, Amazon Kindle Scribe, Apple Watch Ultra, OnePlus 11 5G, Amazon Fire Omni QLED TVs, Samsung Galaxy S23 phones, Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet, Solo Stove products, and Motorola razr+ flip phone.
Amazon will start incorporating ads into series and movies on its Prime Video streaming service next year, making it the latest SVOD platform to introduce commercials into its formerly ad-free environment, although it will be the default for Amazon Prime subscribers and those who want to watch without ads will have to pay an additional fee.
Amazon stock received a price target boost from analyst Lloyd Walmsley, who believes that the introduction of commercials in Prime Video could significantly contribute to revenue and profit margins, while Goldman Sachs also expressed positivity towards the tech company.
Netflix is planning to raise the price of its ad-free service after the Hollywood actors' strike ends, likely starting with the United States and Canada, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Amazon is hosting its second mega sale of 2023 — Prime Big Deal Days — on Oct. 10 and 11, with an emphasis on gift items, and experts recommend focusing on Amazon-owned devices and brands, as well as electronics, handheld technology, fitness equipment, and kitchen gadgets.
The Amazon Prime Big Deal Days event offers an invitation-only deal for Prime members to purchase a 50-inch 4K Fire TV Omni for $149, making it an excellent value for money.
Amazon is holding its second Prime Day event in October, offering deals on items such as televisions, smart home devices, laptops, tablets, readers, and audio equipment.
During Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon Prime members have the opportunity to score invite-only deals, including a 50-inch 4K Fire TV Omni for $149, but signing up for the invite-only deal does not guarantee a successful purchase.
The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED, known for its impressive picture quality and gaming features, is currently heavily discounted on Amazon for a limited time until October 11th during Prime Big Deals Day.
Amazon is offering early Prime Day TV deals, including a 50-inch 4K Fire TV Omni for $149 and a 50-inch Hisense U6HD 4K QLED TV for $199, but these discounts are only available to select Amazon Prime members who receive an invitation.
Amazon is offering exclusive discounts on various products, including tech, fitness gear, home and kitchen gadgets, during its 48-hour Prime Big Deal Days sale for Prime members, with additional deals continually being updated throughout the event.