- By Alex David
- Tue, 13 May 2025 02:30 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Amazon Prime Video India is set for an exciting transformation starting June 17, 2025. The popular streaming service will begin incorporating advertisements into movies and TV shows streaming via their platform. Amazon's global monetisation strategy may change how millions of Indian subscribers experience content on its platform. Amazon guarantees its users that its ads will be “limited” and significantly fewer than those seen on traditional television or other streaming services. This offers viewers who prioritize an uninterrupted streaming experience an option to upgrade for an ad-free streaming experience at a promotional price. In doing this, it joins a larger streaming industry trend of adopting dual-tier models to balance profits against content investments.
Limited Ads for All, Unless You Pay More
Amazon informed its users by email that ads will begin being introduced across all content starting June 17, with lower ad loads than traditional television commercials. This strategy mirrors Amazon's global strategy, where their ad-supported version of Prime Video now reportedly reaches over 130 Million Users Monthly –a 15 Million Increase Since 2024
Ad-Free Upgrade at a Discounted Rate
Amazon will be offering an ad-free add-on at an introductory discounted price of Rs. 699 annually or Rs. 129 per month–down from its standard Rs. 999 annual cost–that will go live when ads become live. Users who prefer uninterrupted experiences will have this upgrade available from day one of advertisements going live.
What about Existing Prime Members?
Amazon announced that existing Prime membership costs in India will remain the same, enabling subscribers to continue taking advantage of bundled benefits such as free shipping, Prime Music streaming service, early access to deals and accessing Prime Video–now with ads unless an upgrade upgrade is purchased.
Why Ads? Content Investment and Growth
The company justifies ads as a means to continue investing in high-quality, original content production while expanding operations in India. This monetization strategy follows industry norms: platforms increasingly adopt ad-supported models in order to lower production costs while offering viewers greater price flexibility.