Amazon Prime Video to Introduce More Ads: What You Need to Know

Amazon Prime Video to Introduce More Ads: What You Need to Know

Amazon is set to add an increased number of advertisements to its Prime Video service starting early next year, according to the Financial Times. This development follows a previous roll-out of ads within the streaming platform less than a year ago—creating quite a stir among subscribers who are already paying for the service.

This move aligns with a growing trend among streaming services, where subscribers not only pay for content but also must endure advertisements. The integration of ads has proven to be a lucrative revenue source for Amazon, with the company reporting over $1.8 billion in advertising commitments during a recent upfront event—surpassing its initial targets. Notably, the ad-supported tier of Prime Video currently caters to about 19 million users in the UK and more than 100 million in the US each month.

Kelly Day, Vice President of Prime Video International, remarked that the initial rollout was strategically designed to be a “gentle entry into advertising,” starting with a light load of ads to acclimate users to the new format. So far, Amazon claims that the introduction of ads has not significantly annoyed users or led to a mass exodus from the platform.

Looking forward, the streaming service is also preparing to unveil an interactive ad feature that allows viewers to add items to their shopping cart directly from the video stream—a move aimed at seamlessly integrating shopping and viewing experiences for users.

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As advertisers and streaming services continue to evolve their strategies, it remains to be seen how user experience will be affected—and whether subscribers will tolerate the shift in their viewing habits.

For further updates, make sure to stay tuned for more insights on this and other tech trends in the future!