Amazon is eyeing an ad-supported plan to its Prime Video streaming platform to expand its advertising business and increase revenue from entertainment, according to sources.
The Wall Street Journal reports that advertisers are keen for Amazon to offer such a service, as other players like Netflix and Disney have already done so. Ad buyers are specifically asking for more access to premium content that has remained largely ad-free, as such content often gets more buzz.
Amazon Prime Video’s Php 149 plan already includes up to 4K video resolution and up to three devices for concurrent streaming and offline downloads.
While Netflix’s ad-supported tier has not yet arrived in the Philippines, in the U.S., it costs USD 6.99 per month (~Php 393) and offers Full HD video with two concurrent streams. However, there are fewer movies available due to licensing restrictions, and no offline downloads are available.
Previously, Amazon has offered Prime Video in the Philippines for Php 259 per month, but the price was lowered to Php 149 per month. With the implementation of an ad-tier, the price could go down even further, enticing more customers to the platform who don’t mind the ads.
This could be especially appealing to those who want to watch Filipino-made TV shows and movies which have largely been premiering on Prime Video as of late.
