Amazon, under the ownership of Jeff Bezos, has faced significant backlash from customers due to a series of price increases. One notable instance was the subscription price hike by 43% for Ring, an Amazon-owned company, which left many considering abandoning the doorbell gadget altogether.
Ad Breaks on Prime Video
After Amazon declared that an ad-free subscription would cost the subscribers almost $3 extra fee, some of them said that they would be canceling their accounts.
Another contentious issue arose with the introduction of advertisements on Amazon Prime Video. Viewers expressed their displeasure, threatening to cancel their subscriptions in response to the imposition of ad breaks. To remove ads, users are required to pay an additional £2.99 / $2.99 fee.
Related Article: Amazon Prime Video Getting Ads Next Week, Extra $2.99 Fee for Ad-Free Streaming
Further Changes in Prime Audio Options
In addition to the introduction of ads, Amazon Prime has now made its best Prime audio features a paid-for benefit. Subscribers who opt for the ad-free option are the only ones granted access to Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos surround sound. This decision has not been well-received by fans, who perceive it as unfair and "petty," The Sun finds.
How Customers React to the Amazon Prime Video Ads
Social media platforms have been flooded with negative reactions from users. Many have expressed their discontent with the added charges, with some stating that they cannot afford the extra fees. Some customers have even cited these changes as reasons for considering canceling their Prime subscriptions altogether.
"Amazon was already the worst streaming platform. Now they're just digging their grave even deeper," one person wrote.
Amazon Explains its Side on Prime Video Backlash
Responding to the criticism, an Amazon spokesperson clarified that Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos capabilities are exclusively available on the ad-free option, on relevant titles. However, this explanation has done little to quell the dissatisfaction among Prime users.
Amazon's recent decisions regarding price hikes and the introduction of advertisements have sparked significant backlash from customers. The Seattle-based firm may need to reconsider its approach to maintain customer satisfaction and loyalty in the face of increasing discontent.
Before Valentine's Day, Amazon secured an exclusive deal with the NFL when it comes to the upcoming 2024-25 season.
According to a recent report, NFL playoff games will be streamed on Amazon Prime next season. This could mean that more viewers are expected to flock to the platform soon.
It is expected that the first NFL matches will be streamed on Prime Video by mid-August 2024. Of course, the NFL exhibition games will be the first to be presented before the official games kick-off.
Read Also: Amazon Prime Video to Begin Showing Ads to Users Globally-You Can Go Ad-Free but There's a Catch
