How to Deal with Ads on Amazon Prime Video: A Complete Guide

By Cepy 9/03/2023 Post a Comment

Hi everyone, welcome to our blog where we share tips and tricks on how to enjoy your streaming experience. In this article, we will talk about ads on Amazon Prime Video, one of the most popular streaming services in the world. If you are a Prime Video subscriber, you may have noticed that some content on the platform has ads that you cannot skip or avoid. This can be frustrating, especially if you are paying for a premium service that is supposed to be ad-free. So why does Amazon Prime Video have ads, and what can you do about them? Let's find out.

Amazon Prime Video is a streaming service that offers a wide range of content, including movies, TV shows, documentaries, and original productions. Prime Video is part of the Amazon Prime membership, which costs $119 per year or $12.99 per month in the US. Prime members also get access to other benefits, such as free shipping, music streaming, e-books, and more. Prime Video is available on various devices, such as smart TVs, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and Fire TV sticks.

Types of Ads on Amazon Prime Video

Before we dive into the reasons and solutions for ads on Amazon Prime Video, let's first understand the different types of ads that you may encounter on the platform. Not all ads are created equal, and some are more intrusive than others. Here are the main types of ads that you may see on Prime Video:

Pre-Roll Ads

Pre-roll ads are ads that play before the start of a video that you have selected to watch. These ads are usually 15 to 30 seconds long, and they cannot be skipped or fast-forwarded. These ads are the most annoying type of ads on Prime Video, as they interrupt your viewing experience and force you to watch something that you did not choose. These ads are mostly seen on content that is not produced by Amazon Studios, such as movies and TV shows from other studios or networks.

Reasons for Ads on Amazon Prime Video

Now that we know the types of ads that we may encounter on Prime Video, let's look at the reasons why they exist in the first place. After all, we are paying for a premium service that is supposed to be ad-free, right? Well, not exactly. Here are some of the reasons why Amazon Prime Video has ads:

Licensing Deals

One of the main reasons why some content on Prime Video has pre-roll ads is because of licensing deals with other content providers. Amazon does not own all of the content that it streams on its platform; it has to pay royalties and fees to other studios and networks for the rights to stream their movies and TV shows. In order to recoup some of these costs and make a profit, Amazon may agree to show ads before or during playback of some content.

This is similar to how cable TV works; you pay a monthly fee for access to various channels, but you still have to watch commercials during some programs. The difference is that cable TV has a lot more ads than Prime Video, and you cannot skip them or choose another channel. On Prime Video, you can at least avoid some of the ads by choosing content that is produced by Amazon Studios, such as The Boys, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, or The Man in the High Castle.

IMDb Integration

Another reason why some content on Prime Video has ads is because of Amazon's integration with IMDb, which is a website that provides information about movies and TV shows. Amazon owns IMDb, and it uses its database to enhance the Prime Video experience. For example, you can use the X-Ray feature to see trivia, cast, and crew information about the content that you are watching.

However, IMDb also has its own streaming service called IMDb TV, which is free but ad-supported. IMDb TV offers a variety of movies and TV shows that are not available on Prime Video, such as Lost, Schitt's Creek, or The Terminator. In order to access IMDb TV content, you have to watch ads before and during playback. This is how IMDb TV makes money and provides free content to its users.

Advertising Revenue

The final reason why Prime Video has ads is simply because advertising is a lucrative source of revenue for Amazon. Amazon is not just a streaming service; it is also an e-commerce giant that sells millions of products online. By showing ads on Prime Video, Amazon can promote its own products and services, as well as those of other advertisers who pay to reach its large and loyal customer base.

Amazon can also use its data and algorithms to target ads based on your viewing history and preferences, making them more relevant and effective. For example, if you watch a lot of sci-fi movies, you may see ads for books or games in the same genre. By showing ads on Prime Video, Amazon can increase its sales and profits, as well as provide more value to its advertisers and customers.

A Breakdown of Ads on Amazon Prime Video

To give you a better idea of how many and what kind of ads you may see on Prime Video, we have created a table that summarizes the main points that we have discussed so far. Here is a breakdown of ads on Amazon Prime Video:

Type of Ad	Location	Content	Duration	Skip Option
Sponsored Product Videos	"More Like This" or "Watch Next" recommendations	Products sold on Amazon.com related to the content that you are watching	Varies	Yes (scroll past or select another video)
Sponsored Brands	Right sidebar of device's screen	Logos and headlines of brands that advertise on Amazon.com	5 seconds	Yes (press back button or click X icon)
Sponsored Channels	"My Subscription" row on home page	Channels available on Prime Video Channels	Varies	Yes (scroll past or choose another row)
Pre-Roll Ads	Before the start of a video	Movies and TV shows from other studios or networks	15 to 30 seconds	No (cannot skip or fast-forward)

FAQs about Ads on Amazon Prime Video

Can I remove ads from Amazon Prime Video?

The short answer is no, you cannot remove ads from Amazon Prime Video completely. However, you can reduce the number and frequency of ads that you see by following some tips and tricks that we will share in the next section.

Can I use an ad blocker to block ads on Amazon Prime Video?

No, you cannot use an ad blocker to block ads on Amazon Prime Video. Ad blockers are software tools that prevent ads from loading or displaying on websites or apps. However, they do not work on Prime Video because the ads are embedded in the video stream itself. Therefore, using an ad blocker will not stop the ads from playing; it may only cause errors or glitches in the playback.

Can I pay extra to get rid of ads on Amazon Prime Video?

No, you cannot pay extra to get rid of ads on Amazon Prime Video. Unlike some other streaming services that offer ad-free plans for a higher price, such as Hulu or YouTube Premium, Prime Video does not have such an option. The only way to avoid ads on Prime Video is to choose content that does not have them.

Some of the other questions that you may have about ads on Amazon Prime Video are:

Do ads on Amazon Prime Video affect the video quality or speed?

No, ads on Amazon Prime Video do not affect the video quality or speed. The ads are streamed at the same resolution and bitrate as the content that you are watching, so they will not cause any buffering or lagging issues. However, if you have a slow or unstable internet connection, you may experience some problems with both the ads and the content.

Do ads on Amazon Prime Video count towards the data usage?

Yes, ads on Amazon Prime Video count towards the data usage. The ads are part of the video stream, so they consume the same amount of data as the content that you are watching. Therefore, if you have a limited data plan or a cap on your internet service, you may want to monitor your data usage and adjust your streaming settings accordingly.

Do ads on Amazon Prime Video vary by region or device?

Yes, ads on Amazon Prime Video vary by region and device. The ads that you see may depend on your location, language, device type, and other factors. For example, you may see different ads if you watch Prime Video in the US versus in Australia, or if you watch it on a Fire TV stick versus on a laptop. This is because Amazon tailors its ads to suit different markets and audiences.

How to Reduce Ads on Amazon Prime Video

As we have seen, ads on Amazon Prime Video are inevitable and unavoidable. However, there are some ways that you can reduce the number and frequency of ads that you see on the platform. Here are some tips and tricks that you can try:

Choose Content from Amazon Studios

The easiest way to avoid pre-roll ads on Prime Video is to choose content that is produced by Amazon Studios, such as The Boys, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, or The Man in the High Castle. These shows and movies do not have any ads before or during playback, as they are exclusive to Prime Video and do not require any licensing deals with other content providers. You can find content from Amazon Studios by looking for the "Prime Original" or "Amazon Original" label on the thumbnails or descriptions.

Use Parental Controls

Another way to reduce pre-roll ads on Prime Video is to use parental controls to restrict access to certain content. Parental controls allow you to set a PIN code that is required to watch content that is rated above a certain age level. For example, you can set a PIN for content that is rated PG-13 or above, which will prevent anyone from watching such content without entering the PIN. This will also block any pre-roll ads that are associated with such content, as they are also rated accordingly.

To set up parental controls on Prime Video, go to your account settings and select "Parental Controls". Then, choose a PIN and select the age level that you want to restrict. You can also apply parental controls to specific devices or profiles, if you have multiple users or devices in your household.

Use Watch Party

A third way to reduce pre-roll ads on Prime Video is to use watch party, which is a feature that allows you to watch content with your friends or family online. Watch party lets you create a chat room where you can invite up to 100 people to join and watch the same video at the same time. You can also chat with each other using text or voice messages.

The best part about watch party is that it does not show any pre-roll ads before the start of a video. This means that you can enjoy uninterrupted viewing with your loved ones without having to sit through annoying commercials. However, watch party only works for content that is included with your Prime membership; it does not work for rented or purchased content, or for content from Prime Video Channels.

Use VPN

A fourth way to reduce pre-roll ads on Prime Video is to use a VPN (virtual private network), which is a service that encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server in another location. By using a VPN, you can change your IP address and appear as if you are accessing Prime Video from another country. This may allow you to access different content libraries that have fewer or no pre-roll ads.

However, using a VPN may also have some drawbacks. For one thing, it may slow down your internet speed and affect your streaming quality. For another thing, it may violate the terms of service of Prime Video and result in your account being suspended or terminated. Therefore, use a VPN at your own risk and discretion.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ads on Amazon Prime Video are a reality that we have to deal with as subscribers of the streaming service. While some ads are more annoying than others, they are not entirely without reason or benefit. Ads help Amazon cover the costs of licensing and producing content, as well as provide more value to its customers and advertisers. Ads also help us discover new products, services, and content that we may be interested in.

However, if you are not a fan of ads and want to reduce them as much as possible, you can try some of the tips and tricks that we have shared in this article. You can choose content from Amazon Studios, use parental controls, use watch party, or use a VPN to avoid or minimize pre-roll ads on Prime Video. You can also ignore or skip some of the other types of ads that appear on the platform.

We hope that this article has helped you understand and deal with ads on Amazon Prime Video better. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below. And if you enjoyed this article, please check out our other articles on streaming tips and tricks. Thank you for reading and happy streaming!

Google Ads Guide