AMAZON Prime is reportedly plotting an ad-supported subscription, and following Netflix in rolling out a cheaper alternative for users.
The discussions are still in their ‘early stages’ but have been ongoing over the past few weeks, according to The Wall Street Journal.
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Amazon currently offers Prime Video for $8.99 (£5.99) per month, or $14.99 (£8.99) as part of its Prime membership.
Subscribers can also access (HBO) Max, Paramount Plus and Showtime ad-ons through Prime Video Channels.
Netflix introduced its Basic with Ads plan for $6.99 (£4.99) a month in November last year as a cost of living crisis grew for many.
It was met with a warm reception at a time when Netflix was struggling with growing its viewership numbers.
But Amazon may go a step further than Netflix – which fans are not happy about.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Amazon is mulling a decision to show more ads to existing Prime subscribers and then offering an “option to pay more for an ad-free alternative and other features.”
The ad breaks will reportedly be “short,” but subscribers say they’ll quit nonetheless.
“Who thought that was a good idea when the actual content has few options that I want to watch anyway? With so many other streaming services, you are not as ‘prime’ as you used to be,” said one subscriber on Twitter.
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Another tweeted: “Good luck making any profits from this. I am unsubscribing if they want me to pay.”
Amazon is also in talks with Warner Bros, Discovery and Paramount to begin offering ad-supported versions of Max and Paramount Plus within its Prime Video Channels, The Wall Street Journal reported.
But this has left more customers riled up.
“I will immediately cancel my subscription if you up-charge me to go ad free. I have tons of choices. I don’t need you,” a third subscriber tweeted.
Others complained that Prime Video having an ad-supported tier would make it too much like Freevee, Amazon’s free video services which includes adverts.
This is especially true after Amazon began adding content from Prime Video onto Freevee late last year, including titles such as The Summer I Turned Pretty and A League of Their Own.
The Sun has contacted Amazon for comment.
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