While Amazon Prime Video boasts captivating original shows, you need a subscription to access them. Recently, they hiked prices by $2.99 monthly, offering an ad-supported option as a cheaper alternative. But hold on, there’s a catch (or two):
Even at $8.99 (with ads!), you miss out on these premium audio/video formats previously included in the base $8.99 tier. This means no enhanced brightness, wider color range, or immersive 3D sound on the cheaper plan. Quite the downgrade considering competitor services often offer these features in their basic tiers.
Amazon prime video conveniently omitted this crucial detail in their price hike and ad-supported tier announcements. Users learned about the missing features later, leaving them feeling misled and stuck with a compromised viewing experience despite paying.
Remember paying for cable just to be bombarded with ads and lower-quality content? This ad-supported tier feels eerily similar, raising concerns about the future of streaming services and their monetization strategies.
Dolby Vision and Atmos come with licensing fees, which Amazon might be trying to avoid on the cheaper tier. However, their silence fuels speculation and leaves users feeling nickel-and-dimed.
Could Amazon be subtly promoting HDR10+ as an alternative, since it’s royalty-free? Time will tell, but users deserve clear communication and fair value for their money.
Overall, Amazon’s ad-supported tier falls short on both promised affordability and quality. The lack of transparency and feature downgrades leave a sour taste, reminiscent of the very industry they were supposed to disrupt.
