Amazon Prime Just Got More Expensive
As streaming services continue to take over, Amazon announced a major change to their Prime Video service. In early 2024, Amazon’s Prime Video will begin showing ads unless users pay an additional $3 per month. This change has led to a widespread discussion about whether people should continue their Prime membership at all, or if the cost of an extra $3 per month is worth avoiding ads.
Amazon was the first to offer a bundled service like Prime, which initially began as a two-day free shipping deal. Over time, Amazon added other features, like photo-storage service, free music streaming, video content and let’s be honest, they have gotten faster. Now, Amazon has over 200 million Prime members worldwide, and Prime Video offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. If you ask me it isn’t as good of a selection than a lot of other streaming services but they do have some amazing shows like The Boys. Sidebar – if you haven’t watched yet, you should!
This could actually benefit Amazon in the long run. If they do use that money to make better streaming content.
For sure the addition of ads to Prime Video has people kind of irritated but, Amazon is hoping it will allow them to continue providing more compelling content. Amazon stated that the ads will be “relevant” and that they hope to ensure users will still have an enjoyable viewing experience. But make sure to take note that users who choose to pay for the additional $3 per month will not be affected, so it is ultimately up to you to decide if it is worth the extra cost for you and your family.
Listen, the extra $3 per month will not break the bank for a lot of us, the bigger issue is whether it is a slippery slope toward more ads in the future. Amazon has stated that they do not plan to increase the number of ads or include in-video product placements, but this may not be a promise they can keep.