Amazon’s Prime Video is set to introduce adverts on its TV programmes and films as it follows in the footsteps of rival streaming giants.
Irish Prime subscribers are expected to see “limited” advertisements from 2024 unless they pay more for an ad-free option.
The platform said it was making the change to “continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time”.
“We aim to have meaningfully fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers,” it said.
People will be given the option to pay for a new “ad-free” subscription, with the cost due to be announced at a later date.
In the US, the ad-free option will cost an additional $2.99 (€2.80) per month for Prime subscribers.
Adverts will be rolled out in Ireland, the UK, US, Germany and Canada in early 2024, followed by France, Italy, Spain, Mexico and Australia later in the year.
Amazon Prime currently costs €10.35 a month in Ireland for services including next-day and same-day delivery on millions of items on the marketplace, advert-free listening on its music streaming platform, and access to original TV series and films on Prime Video. Amazon said that price will not change in 2024.
Disney+ announced plans to introduce an “ad-supported” subscription plan in Ireland and the UK last month, which will cost €5.74 for the basic plan with adverts when it is launched in November.
Disney said the move will “provide greater choice for our customers and our world-class advertising partners alike”.
Amazon, meanwhile, said its Prime service is “very compelling value” due to the shopping, savings and entertainment benefits that come with it.
It will send out an email to subscribers several weeks before adverts are introduced with information on how to sign up to the ad-free option.
