Amazon announced Friday that its Prime Video streaming service, part of its $14.99-a-month premium Prime service, will now include limited ads for its TV shows and movies.
Ads in Prime Video will be available to users in the US and other countries in early 2024, with more countries arriving later this year, the US e-commerce giant said in a blog post.
If US customers don't want to see ads, they must pay an additional $3 per month. However, the company said in its statement that ads will continue to run at this level during live events and sporting events.
Prime customers will receive an email a few weeks before the ad airs with the opportunity to sign up for an ad-free plan.
“To continue investing in engaging content and continue to increase investment over time, Prime Video shows and movies will include limited advertising starting in early 2024,” the company said in a post on Friday.
Amazon said it plans to offer "significantly fewer ads than TV and other streaming providers."
Prime Video now joins competing streaming services like Netflix, Discovery Max and Disney Plus that rely on ads.
Media companies in particular are trying to make their live streaming activities profitable in a variety of ways, from advertising to password sharing campaigns and cost-cutting.