Amazon Prime Video Introduces Ads in India
Starting June 17, Amazon Prime Video will introduce limited advertisements for viewers in India. This follows a similar rollout in the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Canada. Amazon emailed Indian Prime members on Tuesday announcing the change.
Ad-Free Option Available
An ad-free add-on is available for Prime members who prefer an uninterrupted viewing experience. This add-on costs ₹699 annually or ₹129 monthly. This optional add-on sits on top of the existing Prime membership.
Amazon's Ad Strategy
Last year, Amazon introduced a $3 monthly ad-free add-on in the U.S. for Prime Video. This move reportedly generated over $1.8 billion in ad spending commitments. Amazon recently revealed that over 130 million U.S. viewers are now watching Prime Video with ads.
In India, Amazon also owns MX Player, a streaming service with an ad-supported model. MX Player offers a subscription to reduce the number of ads shown. Amazon acquired MX Player from Times Internet last year.
Pricing and Competition
Amazon Prime in India starts at ₹299 per month and goes up to ₹1,499. Other streaming giants like Netflix and Disney+ also offer ad-supported plans in various markets.
Current Amazon Prime members in India can expect to see ads on Prime Video starting June 17. They can choose to subscribe to the ad-free add-on for an uninterrupted streaming experience.
