An ad-free option will be available to users of the streaming service for an additional monthly charge
Amazon Prime Video users will notice a new addition to the streaming service in the new year: advertisements.
After announcing last September that “Prime Video shows and movies will include limited advertisements,” Amazon has set a launch date for the change of Jan. 29. An ad-free option will be available to users for an additional $2.99 monthly charge, for which Amazon has opened pre-registration.
“This will allow us to continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time. We aim to have meaningfully fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers,” a message from the company sent by email to its members and on their user account reads.
The change will not bring advertisements to content that is rented or purchased.
In addition to the U.S., Amazon also plans to bring advertisements to its users in the U.K., Germany, and Canada. Users in France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, and Australia can expect the change to roll out later in the new year, per a previous press release, which also noted that Amazon does not plan to change the current price of Prime membership.
As of now, customers can access Prime Video through a standalone subscription of $8.99 per month or through an Amazon Prime account that costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year.
Prime Video is home to many original series including The Summer I Turned Pretty, The Terminal List, and Swarm.
Amazon noted in its previous press release that the company has continued to invest heavily in Prime Video.
“Prime Video offers a vast selection of movies and series, including Amazon Originals, and live sports. Amazon MGM Studios earned 68 Primetime Emmy Award nominations this year, marking the Studio’s biggest year ever, with critically acclaimed and fan-favorite series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel becoming the most Emmy-nominated streaming comedy ever with 80 nominations over its five-season run,” the company added.
Earlier this year, Netflix also changed its streaming service, charging users an extra $7.99 per month if they plan to share access with out-of-household viewers.
Of the change that took effect in May, the company wrote in a blog post that they recognize that viewers “have many entertainment choices.”