To expand the reach of Amazon’s original video programming beyond Prime membership, the company has launched Season 3 of The Fashion Fund … with ads. While Amazon describes this as an “experiment” to Re/code, given the level of effort required to update the video player, inject commercials into the stream, and even lock down the sponsors, I’d say it’s a pretty clear indicator of what’s to come. Fortunately, Amazon also indicates “Prime Video will remain ad free.” Except this one. For now.
In pulling up the 30 minute Project Runaway knockoff, which interestingly “airs” weekly, I was hit with three 90-120 second ad breaks in the timeline of three to four commercials, featuring Philips Norelco, Philips Sonicare, Geico, Lilly Pulitzer, and Proactiv.
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Hopefully they don't pull a hulu with this.
Hopefully Netflix can keep their model alive, and remain ad free. I would just hate to go backwards to a time where you can't skip commercials, and are required to watch a portion of them (or all, depending on how they implement it). I know this is the "free" version, other than that last bit you mentioned, but if I pay a monthly fee directly to the provider of the programming, like Amazon, Netflix and others, I shouldn't be hit with commercials. I fear the Hulu method of having one price tier for programming with ads and a higher one for no ads.
"I would just hate to go backwards to a time where you can’t skip commercials, and are required to watch a portion of them (or all, depending on how they implement it)."
Have you considered acquiring a DVR? I recommend TiVo for numerous reason, but in your specific case, they have the best ComSkip capabilities.
"I pay a monthly fee directly to the provider of the programming, like Amazon"
Thing is that you're not really paying a fee for Prime video. You're paying Prime for the shipping. The video part is a money loser they're just tossing in to hook you deeper into their ecosystem.
"I fear the Hulu method of having one price tier for programming with ads and a higher one for no ads."
I welcome the Hulu method! Don't forget that for 97% of Hulu's existence that method didn't exist; you couldn't get Hulu w/out ads. And thus I never subscribed to Hulu until the higher price tier appeared.
All that said, I expect Amazon to keep Prime Video ad-free for Prime customers. They're long proved themselves extremely willing to lose money in certain areas on a permanent basis to benefit the business as a whole.