Amazon Prime Video will run ads early next year

After Netflix and Disney+ launched ad-supported plans last year, Amazon announced today that Prime Video will see ads early next year. Prime members will get a $3-per-month ad-free tier.

Amazon said ads will debut in early 2024 in the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Canada. Later this year, Prime Video users in France, Italy, Spain, and Mexico will see ads.

Variety reported that the company would show fewer ads than linear programming, which averages four minutes per hour.

Prime Video shows and movies will have limited ads starting in early 2024 to continue investing in compelling content and increase that investment over time. We aim to have meaningfully fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers,” the company blogged.

YouTube began testing longer, fewer TV ads this month, similar to commercial breaks on linear TV.

Amazon has raised prices on several products in recent years. Prime annual membership rose from $119 to $139 in February 2022. Amazon raised prices for Amazon Music Unlimited plans for individuals, Prime Members, and families this year.

Last month, the company raised the minimum for non-Prime free shipping to $35 in some regions.