Amazon to Discontinue Freevee, Its Ad-Supported Streaming Service
In a move to streamline its video streaming services, Amazon has announced the shutdown of Freevee, its free, ad-supported streaming service. The company made this decision after months of speculation and following the announcement of ads on Prime Video, set to roll out in January 2024.
Originally launched as IMDb TV and renamed to Freevee in April 2022, the service provided a vast offering of free streaming content to both Prime members and non-members. This content, including select originals from Amazon MGM Studios, a variety of licensed movies and series, and a broad library of FAST channels, will now be accessible on Prime Video.
The migration of Freevee's content to Prime Video further integrates ad-supported content into Prime Video, offering a more comprehensive viewing experience. Amazon has emphasised the simplicity of the viewing experience on Prime Video, stating that the decision to phase out Freevee branding is aimed at delivering a simpler viewing experience for customers.
Despite the shutdown of Freevee, there will be no change to the content available for Prime members. All of Freevee's content will be migrated to Prime Video, ensuring that Prime members continue to have access to a wide range of entertainment options.
For non-Prime members, a selection of Freevee's content will still be available on Prime Video, providing them with a variety of free streaming options. The company did not announce a specific date for the phasing out of Freevee branding, but it is expected to disappear by the end of the year.
The decision to shut down Freevee and integrate its content into Prime Video was first reported by Adweek. The news came after Amazon announced its plans to offer ads on Prime Video, leading to speculation about the future of Freevee. However, the company has clarified that the decision to phase out Freevee branding does not affect the content offered on Prime Video.
In conclusion, Amazon's decision to shut down Freevee and integrate its content into Prime Video marks a significant step in the integration of ad-supported content into Prime Video. This move is aimed at delivering a simpler viewing experience for customers while ensuring a wide range of entertainment options for both Prime members and non-members.
