Prime Video is one of the leading streaming services today, alongside HBO Max, Paramount+, Netflix, Disney+, and a few others, but itlags behind thosein my humble opinion. The big issue I have is that the other services all feel like streaming services first and foremost, while Prime Video feels more like a side hustle. I know that’s not the case, but the user interface leaves a lot to be desired, especially when compared to the desktop version.
Amazon frequently touts the success of Prime Video, and just three weeks ago, the company said itreaches 130 million householdsin the U.S. through the ad-supported tier. No matter how you slice it, that’s a giant number, but it is a number that’s up to interpretation. If you’re anything like me, you viewed Prime Video as a bonus to a regular Prime membership more than you did as a streaming service. It wasn’t until Amazon started putting more effort into Prime Video that I started to view it as its own thing. As it turns out, as Amazon continues to invest in the service, the harsher my opinion becomes of it. That’s obviously not what Amazon has in mind, but I can’t help but wonder if this is the right direction.
Amazon Prime Video
How to cancel Amazon Prime Video channel and app subscriptions to cut your costs
Prime Video doesn’t have an identity
This app isn’t fun to navigate
I haven’t even gotten into the strange AI-generated content Prime Video uses yet either. I’m sure there are more examples floating around, but with 2024’s Nosferatu looming, many people decided to check out the original 1922 film only to discover Prime Video used anAI-generated posterto promote the film. It was met with a lot of backlash, but the film appeared untouched, so no harm was done in that end, thankfully. With AI posing a greater threat each passing day though, this type of stuff might become more of the norm. As of right now, it’s just an annoyance that I hope doesn’t grow to become something bigger.
Sick of Prime Video’s new ads? Here’s how to remove them
It may require an upgrade, but you’ll be ad-free on both any Prime TV app or the web.
Prime Video feels like a rug pull
Things have changed quickly
It’s not uncommon for services to feel like they lose value as the years go by. YouTube TV started off as a major disrupter to the traditional cable plan thanks to its aggressively low price and ease of access. As time went on, YouTube TV has now positioned itself at aprice that rivals cable, and while it’s still nice to have, it doesn’t have anywhere close to the value it once held. I think the same thing can be said of Prime Video, and it’s rather shocking when you look back on it.
On the bright side, a standalone Prime Video subscription, with ads,costs $8.99, so it’s actually one of the cheaper services from that perspective. The issue is, I get a lot more value out of having Amazon Prime, even with its flaws, and Prime Video just feels like a bonus on top of that. The end result is a confusing payment model that’s not helped by how the services are named. Prime Video comes with Amazon Prime for free, but Prime Video doesn’t come with Amazon Prime because they aren’t the same thing. Did you get all that?
As somebody who writes about streaming services for a living, I even find the whole process confusing. I can’t even begin to imagine how somebody who doesn’t know the ins and outs of services feels. With Amazon securing both NFL and NBA games, it’s going to bring in even more of an audience, so I hope they know how to not only pay for the service, but how to navigate it too.
How to create Amazon Prime Video profiles for your family
Amazon’s Prime Video service offers individual user profiles for each family member. It’s a pretty simple feature to set up, too. Here’s how.
