22 Sep Amazon Wants Everyone to Watch Prime Video with Ads [IndieWire]
BY TONY MAGLIO
September 22, 2023 | They got to Amazon Prime Video, too.
Beginning in early 2024, Prime Video series and movies will include commercials. The core Amazon video-streaming service says it aims to have “meaningfully fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers.”
Of course, that’s what they all say. And we do mean all — this latest development pretty much just leaves Apple TV+ as the lone major streamer without commercials. We’ll see how long that lasts. (Due to the nature of live sports, Apple’s MLS service and MLB “Friday Night Baseball” add-on package have ads.)
Netflix and other top streamers have been pushing users to ad-supported versions of their services. The average revenue per user (ARPU) on those tiers tends to be a bit higher than on the subscription-only plans. That’s especially the case in poorer countries where consumers are conditioned to sit through a larger ad load to get their entertainment.