Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Amazon Working on Free Ad-Supported Version of Prime Video as Content War With Apple Intensifies

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,659
39,534



Amazon is developing a free, ad-supported version of its Prime Video streaming video service, according to Ad Age.

amazon-prime-video-800x229.jpg

The free tier will complement Amazon's ad-free, on-demand Prime Video service that is included with an annual $99 subscription to Amazon Prime, which provides free shipping, deals, and other perks to its online shoppers.

Amazon is reportedly in talks with TV networks, movie studios, and other media companies about programming for the service.
For the ad-supported service, Amazon wants to dive into back catalogs of TV and movie studios, looking to beef up its children's programming, for example, one TV industry insider says. It is also going after lifestyle, travel, cooking and other shows that are a good fit for an e-commerce platform.
Click to expand...
Amazon, which is reportedly already estimated to have spent almost $5 billion on content by the end of the year, is said to be doubling down on its content efforts as Apple and several other tech companies push into original programming.

Last week, for example, Apple reportedly outbid Netflix for a new TV show that will star Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston. The series is said to revolve around the lives of morning talk show hosts, based on journalist Brian Stelter's book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV.

Apple's push into original content is being led in part by former Sony executives Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, who joined the iPhone maker back in June. Van Amburg and Erlicht are known for their work on many popular TV shows, including Breaking Bad, The Crown, and Better Call Saul.

Of note, Amazon Prime Video is still not available for the Apple TV. Apple said the app will be released by the end of 2017.

Article Link: Amazon Working on Free Ad-Supported Version of Prime Video as Content War With Apple Intensifies
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/11/13/amazon-prime-video-ad-supported-tier/
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
  • Like
Reactions: Avieshek
I cant complain about the job Amazon has been doing. Love The Man in the High Castle, Bosch is a good show, Comrade Detective was good, and I just discovered a classic game show section, and Im getting into that. I have "The Big Three" subscription channels, Amazon Netflix and Hulu and while Amazon used to be a distant third in that lineup that have absolutely passed Hulu in content and quality.
 
  • Like
Reactions: artfossil, DotCom2 and bernuli
I've already given up on the Amazon app on Apple TV. I only have one TV left that isn't smart. The other TV's in my house are smart and have the Amazon App already built in and what's even better is that there is a dedicated Amazon button on the remote. So go fly a kite Apple/Amazon fight!
 
  • Like
Reactions: mwd25 and tonyr6
macTW said:
Pay for prime. Gets “original content” nobody cares about. Now has to have ads cuz amazon needs more money.
Click to expand...

I love Bosch, Man in the High Castle. Z and Last Tycoon were interesting. I wish Amazon gave them both more time. Looking forward to Jack Ryan and a few other new 2018 shows. IMHO almost all of Amazon's original shows are 1000x more interesting than anything on the networks. Network shows these days seem to be written to the lowest common denominator.

Amazon doesn't "need" more money -- it's wants more eyeballs because eyeballs = clout and influence. Offering a free service is great as long as it doesn't eventually morph into the Prime no ad service. But I can see Amazon eventually offer Prime in tiers.
[doublepost=1510588286][/doublepost]
DotCom2 said:
I've already given up on the Amazon app on Apple TV. I only have one TV left that isn't smart. The other TV's in my house are smart and have the Amazon App already built in and what's even better is that there is a dedicated Amazon button on the remote. So go fly a kite Apple/Amazon fight!
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's funny. I originally bought the ATV so I could stream content onto my TV. But with all the streaming "networks" now having built-in apps in TVs my ATV's have less relevance to me. Whenever Amazon comes to ATV it really won't matter to me since my main TV already has it and I wouldn't watch movies on any other.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DotCom2 and mwd25
macTW said:
Pay for prime. Gets “original content” nobody cares about. Now has to have ads cuz amazon needs more money.
Click to expand...

If you don't want to watch Prime Video, you don't have to. Just enjoy the Prime shipping benefits and call it a day.
 
NexusUser said:
Amazon doesn't want to give Apple a 30% cut, that's why your Amazon Prime App is missing
Click to expand...

Nope. 1) Both Amazon and Apple already announced the app is coming. 2) Devs don't have to build in subscription availability in their apps. Apps can be simply view-only. For example both DirecTV and DirecTV Now require subscribing outside of the app.
[doublepost=1510588597][/doublepost]
Mike MA said:
I know well services are the future. But some budget still should be around for more frequent Mac updates.
Click to expand...

Frequency isn't the problem -- except the mini. The problem is the components used for the price offered.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Good User Name
webbuzz said:
This promise? Looks like they gave about six weeks.

Apple said "later this year."


Amazon said "this year."

bDqYKlQ.png
Click to expand...

Sorry. But it was originally promised well over a year ago... Tim Cook simply provided the most recent update.
 
Only Amazon and Apple can take on Verizon/ATT monopoly so I’m glad they are digging their feet in. Internet providers will think twice before throttling their services. I can see a bug win for us consumers.
 
Content war with Apple? lol It's hard to know what Apple is even doing. Those are savvy generals Apple has on the front. Video content isn't going to make apple music any more appealing to me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 69Mustang
Chupa Chupa said:
I love Bosch, Man in the High Castle. Z and Last Tycoon were interesting. I wish Amazon gave them both more time. Looking forward to Jack Ryan and a few other new 2018 shows. IMHO almost all of Amazon's original shows are 1000x more interesting than anything on the networks. Network shows these days seem to be written to the lowest common denominator.

Amazon doesn't "need" more money -- it's wants more eyeballs because eyeballs = clout and influence. Offering a free service is great as long as it doesn't eventually morph into the Prime no ad service. But I can see Amazon eventually offer Prime in tiers.
[doublepost=1510588286][/doublepost]

Yeah, it's funny. I originally bought the ATV so I could stream content onto my TV. But with all the streaming "networks" now having built-in apps in TVs my ATV's have less relevance to me. Whenever Amazon comes to ATV it really won't matter to me since my main TV already has it and I wouldn't watch movies on any other.
Click to expand...
This idea works until you realize the prime app built into most 4K TV sets can’t play the 4K content
 
  • Like
Reactions: jettredmont
Don’t know why I even bother paying for Amazon Prime. Don’t watch anything on the video side and don’t buy enough stuff on their app/website to make it worth it. Amazon better get the prime app on the ATV before the end month or I’m done with them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dan980 and tonyr6
Remy149 said:
This idea works until you realize the prime app built into most 4K TV sets can’t play the 4K content
Click to expand...

Well then my eyes and TV are lying to me because every time I select a 4K Prime show the TV pops up that 4K HDR has been activated. OTOH, if I choose the same show in 1080p I'm told HD is active.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back