STREAMING giant Amazon Prime Video has announced it will be showing adverts beginning next year unless customers pay an additional monthly fee.
From February 5, adverts will be introduced onto the platform when watching films and TV shows.
An ad-free subscription to the platform will cost an additional £2.99 a month, equivalent to £35.88 a year.
MoneySavingExpert estimated that this increase reflects a price hike of 33% to 50% for those who want to watch shows without ads, as it will be charged on top of the existing Prime and Prime Video membership costs.
Those with a monthly Amazon Prime subscription can expect their bill to increase from £8.99 a month to £11.98 a month (33% more), while those on an annual subscription will see an increase from £95 a year to £130 a year (38% more).
Meanwhile, those who have a monthly Prime Video only subscription will see an increase from £5.99 a month to £8.98 a month (50% more).
Amazon confirmed that live events such as sports, and content offered through Amazon’s Freevee service already include adverts and will continue to do so, even with the ad-free subscription.
It did not say exactly when ads will be played during a show or film, however it said it aimed to have “meaningfully fewer” ads than other streaming providers.
Amazon is not the first streaming provider to feature ads in their content.
Last year, Netflix launched a £4.99 monthly plan that features ads, whilst in November Disney+ followed with a similar plan at the same price.
Service users have taken to social media to express frustration at the addition.
One Twitter/X user said: “Seriously? You don’t make enough money already?”
Seriously? You don't make enough money already @AmazonUK??BBC News - Amazon Prime Video to have ads in UK from Februaryhttps://t.co/nS21XlKXIQ
— Matt (@weyland76) December 27, 2023
Another said: “Amazon want £3 on top of monthly fee to avoid adverts but you will still get adverts when they want to. Greed has no limits it seems!”
Amazon Prime Video to have ads in UK from February - Amazon want £3 on top of monthly fee to avoid adverts but you will still get adverts when they want to . Greed has no limits it seems ! https://t.co/jzZXo8WtTU
— Dominic Sheeran (@Irisheye61) December 27, 2023
Customers can cancel their subscription at no cost before ads are introduced next year.
A similar add-on is being introduced in the United States in late January.
