Why Are There Commercials on Amazon Prime Video & Can I Remove Them?
As an experienced Amazon seller, this is a question I often get from customers about Amazon Prime Video. Many folks are confused and frustrated to see ads and commercials on a paid streaming service.
Let me walk you through exactly why Amazon shows commercials, the different types of ads you‘ll see, and tips to manage them as a Prime member. I‘ve compiled the latest insights from both my expertise in e-commerce and researching recent updates to Amazon‘s advertising approach.
By the end of this guide, you‘ll understand the logic behind Prime Video ads and have a few handy tricks to improve your viewing experience. While Amazon makes it tough to eliminate commercials completely, there are ways to gain more control.
The Reasons For Ads on Amazon Prime Video
Before we dive into the types of ads and how to manage them, let‘s look at why Amazon Prime contains commercials in the first place.
There are four core reasons Amazon includes advertising:
1. Revenue From Partnerships
Amazon Prime Video hosts content from other premium networks like:
- Showtime
- Starz
- AMC
- Lifetime Movie Club
These partners run commercials for their own shows before the programming starts. So you may see an ad for a Showtime series even though you‘re just watching Prime Video.
From a business standpoint, it makes sense. Amazon generates revenue by selling ad time to partners. The partners promote their own content available through Prime Video.
But this can feel deceptive or confusing as a viewer when ads seem to pop up out of nowhere!
2. Promoting Amazon‘s Own Content
In addition to partner ads, Amazon also runs commercials for their own Prime Video original series and movies.
This serves to promote new releases, exclusives, and encourage members to engage more with Prime Video.
You‘ll see ads for:
- Upcoming Prime originals
- Newly added movies/shows
- Amazon content you might like based on viewing history
Again, it‘s about revenue and steering members towards more Amazon content.
3. Revenue From Third-Party Ads
More recently, Amazon Prime Video has begun showing general third-party ads – the same type you see on regular TV and the web.
These are traditional commercials for things like:
- Food and beverage
- Household items
- Insurance
- Vehicles
- Tech products
Amazon likely makes a great deal of money by opening up Prime Video ad space to major brands and corporations. However, fans argue this makes the streaming experience feel too much like cable TV with constant interruptions.
4. Overall Business Strategy
Finally, introducing advertising allows Amazon to:
- Generate greater revenue streams – ads bring in significant money on top of subscription fees
- Maintain competitive pricing – keeps Prime Video well-priced compared to Netflix
- Promote Amazon services – exposure for Amazon content, products, and partners
Basically, commercials serve Amazon‘s overall business strategy. More diversified income and promotion of services makes the company more profitable.
But this heavily contrasts with leading services like Netflix that remain ad-free.
Now let‘s move on to the types of ads you can expect on Prime Video.
Categories of Ads on Amazon Prime
Prime Video members report seeing the following categories of commercials:
Pre-Roll Ads
- Short 15-30 second commercials before content begins
Mid-Roll Ads
- Longer 60-90 second ad breaks that interrupt movies or shows
Display Ads
- Banner promotions for other videos on the browse/home page
IMDb TV Commercials
- Ads for the IMDb TV free streaming service (an Amazon property)
Showtime Previews
- Clips promoting Showtime series and specials
Prime Video Previews
- Promos highlighting new Prime Video original programming
Amazon Fire TV Promotions
- Ads showcasing Amazon Fire TV devices/features
Third-Party Brand Ads
- Traditional commercials for everyday products and services
Below is a breakdown of how often people report seeing each ad type on Reddit and forums:
Ad Type | Frequency Reported |
---|---|
Pre-Roll Ads | Very common |
Mid-Roll Ads | Common during movies and binge sessions |
Display Ads | Occasional |
IMDb TV Commercials | Very common |
Showtime Previews | Common |
Prime Video Previews | Very common |
Fire TV Promotions | Occasional |
Third-Party Ads | Becoming more common |
As you can see, promotional ads for other Amazon properties are extremely prevalent. Pre-roll spots also play before most content.
However, regular third-party advertisements feel most intrusive as they interrupt viewing similar to regular cable.
Now let‘s move on to managing these ads…
Can You Remove or Limit Ads on Amazon Prime Video?
This brings us to the big question – as a paying Prime Video member, can you remove or control ads in any way?
There are a few limited options available:
Turn Off Personalized Ads
You can opt out of interest-based ads under Your Account > Personalization Options:
This prevents Amazon from targeting ads based on your viewing history and behaviors.
However, it does not block all ads. You‘ll still see pre-rolls and other commercials. For many Prime members, this setting seems to have no impact.
Still, it‘s worth trying for a bit more privacy.
Pay for Premium Channels
You can access ad-free content by paying for Prime Video premium add-ons like:
- Showtime
- AMC+
- Starz
- Lifetime Movie Club
The base subscription for these channels removes partner promotions.
Of course, this increases your total costs. But you pay for an ad-free experience.
Use an Ad Blocker
Ad blocking browser extensions may eliminate some ads:
- uBlock Origin
- AdBlock Plus
Results seem to vary depending on the device/platform. You‘ll likely still see some ads get through.
Fast Forward Through Ads
The most reliable way is manually fast forwarding through commercials.
But even this can be tricky if there are no prompts for when the ad break ends.
Contact Amazon Customer Support
You can also contact Amazon Prime Video support. Explain your concerns about excessive interruptions from advertising.
The more feedback Amazon gets, the more pressure to offer ad controls or ad-free tiers. Though no guarantees on impact.
Cancel Your Membership
Of course, opting to cancel your membership altogether removes the ads.
But then you lose access to the Prime Video library. For many, the pros still outweigh cons.
So in summary – options to remove or limit ads are very restricted as an Amazon Prime member. The company makes it difficult to avoid commercials completely.
Now let‘s examine how Amazon Prime Video compares to competitors when it comes to advertising.
How Do Ads Compare To Other Streaming Services?
Ads can be annoying, but does Amazon Prime Video stand out compared to other popular streaming platforms?
Here is a breakdown of how the ad experiences compare across top services:
Streaming Service | Ad Experience |
---|---|
Netflix | No ads |
Hulu | Multiple ad tiers available |
Disney+ | No ads on basic tier |
HBO Max | No ads on regular HBO Max |
Peacock Premium | 5 minutes of ads per hour |
Paramount+ | Ad-free tiers available |
Discovery+ | Ad-supported and ad-free tiers |
ESPN+ | Limited ads on some content |
A few key points:
No Control Over Ads – Most competitors offer some control over ads via account settings or paid tiers. But Amazon Prime makes it very difficult to remove ads completely.
More Prominent Ads – The frequency of Amazon promotions for other properties feels more pronounced. You don‘t see as many Hulu ads on Hulu itself.
No Ad-Free Option – Services like Hulu allow paying more for a completely ad-free experience. No way to do this with Amazon.
Less Transparency – Competitors disclose how much advertising to expect. Amazon does not communicate ads upfront.
So while ads are common on streaming platforms, Amazon Prime Video tends to stand out for the lack of control and transparency around commercials.
Hopefully this gives you a better idea of how the ad experience compares. Now let‘s dive into whether Prime is still worth the money…
Is Amazon Prime Video Still Worth It With Ads?
Even with annoying ads, does a Prime Video membership provide enough value to justify the cost?
Here are some benefits that make Prime Video worth it for many viewers:
Huge Selection of Content
Amazon Prime Video offers over 20,000 movies and shows through official partnerships – far more than most competitors.
There is a deep content library with hit originals like The Boys, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and exclusive rights to Thursday Night Football.
Even with some ads, you gain access to an enormous selection for a low monthly fee.
Fire TV Integration
If you own Fire TV devices, Prime Video offers seamless streaming and integration. You can easily search and browse Prime content from the Fire TV interface.
This is a big perk for existing Amazon hardware owners.
Alexa Voice Commands
Controlling Prime Video hands-free via Alexa voice commands provides added convenience. Just ask Alexa to play, pause, resume, or jump around in a video.
Overall Prime Benefits
A Prime Video membership comes with free shipping, music, books, and other Amazon Prime perks. You get access to the whole suite of services.
Flexible Pricing
Amazon offers monthly Prime Video pricing in addition to annual plans. This makes it easy to test out for a month without long-term commitment.
Better Value than Cable
Replacing traditional cable TV with Prime Video provides thousands of ad-supported titles for generally less money.
Shared Family Access
You can share your Prime membership with up to two other adults and up to four teenagers and children. Great for families.
So despite the annoyance of ads, for many viewers Amazon Prime Video offers a compelling overall package. The combination of content selection, features, and flexibility outweighs the downsides for most members.
Final Thoughts
In closing, ads and commercials on Amazon Prime Video come from business partnerships, promotions, and an overall strategy to increase revenue.
Amazon makes it challenging for members to remove ads completely. But there are a few settings changes and workarounds that can help improve your experience.
While not ideal, most members continue to find Prime Video well worth the price. The service provides outstanding overall value compared to alternatives.
I hope this insider perspective helps explain the logic behind Prime Video ads, and empowers you to better manage commercials moving forward. Despite some frustrations, enjoy the savings and wealth of great entertainment Prime offers!
Let me know if you have any other questions!