ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Amazon issues statement on rumours it's removing thousands of free TV shows and films

Home> Entertainment> TV

Published 09:33 22 Feb 2024 GMT

Amazon issues statement on rumours it's removing thousands of free TV shows and films

The media giant has had its say on growing internet rumours

Tom Earnshaw

Tom Earnshaw

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

It's been a good few weeks since Amazon introduced the controversial decision to bring in ads to Prime Video.

And users of the service have been up in arms again this week over fresh rumours it's now removing a free service where you can watch thousands of TV shows and films without charge.

Adverts in the UK were introduced to Amazon Prime Video at the beginning of February in a move that didn't go down too well with subscribers.

Advert

Costs remain the same if you accept the ads, setting you back £8.99 a month.

But it's an extra £2.99 if you choose to get rid of the advert breaks, which has annoyed some people.

Amazon said the move was necessary to 'allow us to continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time'.

Now, just a few weeks later, the latest rumour is that Amazon is set to take another move in a blow to users.

According to AdWeek, Amazon is planning to 'sunset' its free, ad-supported service that offers you thousands of free movies and television programmes regardless of if you pay for Prime Video or not.

Freevee comes separately to Prime Video.
Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

But in Layman's terms, it means Amazon is reportedly set to put a slow end to the service, commonly known as Amazon Freevee.

The service has tonnes of great content, including Parks and Recreation, Madmen, The West Wing, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2, Donnie Darko, The Road, and Jackie Brown.

Reports claim the service will end before the summer is over, with one source telling AdWeek: "If the question is whether or not Amazon will persist with two stand-alone streaming services.

"I’m certain the answer is no."

You might know Amazon Freevee by another name, with it rebranded from IMDb TV in April 2022.

An example of how the Amazon Freevee app looks on your TV.
Amazon

But Amazon has now spoken out about the rumours and has been quite to the point on the matter.

A spokesperson said: "There are no changes to Freevee.

"Amazon Freevee remains an important streaming offering providing both Prime and non-Prime customers thousands of hit movies, shows, and Originals, all for free."

Despite Amazon's rebuttal of the rumours, insiders have said the company has been laying the foundations for the eventual end to Freevee for some time.

Freevee has, for Amazon, been utilised to try and upsell Prime Video subscriptions to those who use the free-to-air service.

Social media commentary has been mixed, with some not able to understand why Amazon would ditch the service.

Amazon has shut down the Freevee rumours.
Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

One said: "It honestly wouldn't make sense for Amazon to exit the FAST (free, ad-supported streaming) space at a time when it's looking to become an ever bigger ad market giant.

"Could Freevee get (another) new name or exist only in the Prime app? Sure! That'd make sense. Full retreat? Why?"

Featured Image Credit: Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images/Nathan Stirk

Topics: Amazon, Amazon Prime, TV and Film, Money, Jeff Bezos

Tom Earnshaw
Tom Earnshaw

Tom joined LADbible Group in 2024, currently working as SEO Lead across all brands including LADbible, UNILAD, SPORTbible, Tyla, UNILAD Tech, and GAMINGbible. He moved to the company from Reach plc where he enjoyed spells as a content editor and senior reporter for one of the country's most-read local news brands, LancsLive. When he's not in work, Tom spends his adult life as a suffering Manchester United supporter after a childhood filled with trebles and Premier League titles. You can't have it all forever, I suppose.

X

@TREarnshaw

Recommended reads

Leaked Pentagon email shows brutal way US could punish UK for not joining Iran warTasos Katopodis/Getty ImagesAlarming study shows bowel cancer killing more under-45s with death rates continuing to riseGetty Stock PhotoIconic Spanish matador can’t eat or sleep after suffering brutal rectal goringJoaquin Corchero/Europa Press via Getty ImagesHealthy mum, 56, ending life at Swiss clinic shares tragic details of how process worksFacebook

Advert

Choose your content:

13 hours ago
16 hours ago
19 hours ago
  • A&E
    13 hours ago

    Storage Wars’ Darrell Sheets made huge find inside $3,000 locker in one of show's best moments

    Darrell Sheets, the beloved Storage Wars star, was found dead at the age of 67 on Wednesday (22 April)

    Entertainment
  • ITV
    16 hours ago

    Another I'm A Celeb feud surfaces after filming as star accused of 'leaking stories to the press’

    I'm A Celeb has been full of feud this year, but two more stars have had a falling out since filming finished

    Entertainment
  • Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Prime Video
    19 hours ago

    MrBeast’s company responds after it is sued for sexual harassment

    They have strongly denied the claims made in the lawsuit

    Entertainment
  • Instagram/parisfury1
    19 hours ago

    Why Paris Fury named all of her sons Prince

    The mother-of-seven said she has her work cut out for her when booking holidays and speaking to doctors about her boys

    Entertainment
  • Amazon to start blocking illegal streaming through 'dodgy' apps from today
  • Little-known Netflix rule blocks millions from watching some of its best TV shows and films
  • Amazon Fire Stick users can legally stream thousands of films and shows for free
  • UK areas targeted in crackdown on dodgy Amazon firesticks