It took some time, but it surely’s lastly occurred: Amazon is shutting down Freevee, its free, totally ad-supported streaming service. Because it seems — and as we identified in January — there was simply no level in having two ad-supported streaming platforms.
An Amazon spokesperson stated the corporate has “determined to section out Freevee branding.”
“There can be no change to the content material out there for Prime members, and an enormous providing of free streaming content material will nonetheless be accessible for non-Prime members, together with choose Originals from Amazon MGM Studios, a wide range of licensed films and sequence, and a broad library of FAST Channels — all out there on Prime Video,” the spokesperson continued.
You possibly can learn the complete assertion towards the underside of this story for those who’d wish to — honest warning, it consists of plenty of throat-clearing.
An individual near the choice to shutter Freevee instructed IndieWire that there can be no layoffs related to this transformation.
On the finish of January, Amazon added adverts to Prime Video, and subscribers had been compelled to devour the commercials except they opted to pay further to return to an ad-free free surroundings. It was then we requested, “what’s the purpose of Freevee now?” Jeff Bezos lastly heard us. (Simply kidding, he’s busy not endorsing presidents.)
What doomed Freevee was really not its semi-corny (however informative!) identify. IMDb was a stronger model, but it surely was by no means actually adopted as a participant inside the streaming-video universe. Some analysts on the time speculated that most individuals watching Freevee perhaps don’t know they’re really watching it. Freevee was already built-in into Prime Video, so except you had downloaded the separate Freevee app, you had been most likely watching a tile inside the larger Prime Video ecosystem.
With much more Prime Video customers than Freevee customers, it was illogical to separate advertisers between the 2 platforms. The Freevee model’s destiny was sealed when reveals like its largest hit “Jury Responsibility,” in addition to “On Name” and “American Rust: Damaged Justice,” migrated over to Prime Video. The 2 companies even weirdly shared the third season of “Bosch: Legacy.” Now all these reveals and a few others like “Judy Justice,” “Neighbours,” and “Primo” are merely turning into Prime Video originals. Freevee additionally consists of correct FAST channels, however these too are on Prime Video (or can be quickly).
No Freevee programming can be put behind a Prime Video paywall, we confirmed.
“We now have constructed Prime Video right into a first-stop leisure vacation spot the place clients can personalize their viewing expertise by streaming unique Prime member leisure produced by Amazon MGM Studios, licensed films and sequence, content material from different companies as an add-on subscription, stay sports activities, blockbuster films and sequence to lease or purchase, FAST Channels and the whole Amazon Freevee content material providing,” the Amazon assertion reads. “To ship a less complicated viewing expertise for patrons, we’ve determined to section out Freevee branding. There can be no change to the content material out there for Prime members, and an enormous providing of free streaming content material will nonetheless be accessible for non-Prime members, together with choose Originals from Amazon MGM Studios, a wide range of licensed films and sequence, and a broad library of FAST Channels –— all out there on Prime Video.”
Amazon shouldn’t be the one media firm shuttering (or at the least, trimming) free streaming: Peacock eradicated its free, restricted tier in 2023. Pluto TV (owned by Paramount, however not built-in inside Paramount+) and Tubi (Fox) stay prime free-streaming choices.