It’s official: Amazon is shuttering its free streaming service Freevee
It’s official: Amazon is shuttering its free streaming service Freevee
In a move that’s been expected for months, Amazon is sunsetting the ad-supported free streamer and moving its content to Prime Video.
It’s time to say farewell to Freevee. The free ad-supported streaming service which offers both live streaming channels and on-demand content is due to be shut down in territories where it’s available in the coming weeks, and its content will continue to be moved to the larger Prime Video ecosystem alongside TV shows and movies that come with a subscription to that service, along with titles available for rental or purchase.
Key Details:
- Freevee content will move to a “Watch for Free” menu within the Prime Video interface.
- Free shows, movies, and channels will still be available to watch for non-Prime Video subscribers.
- The move will allow Amazon to cut streaming costs and simplify its interface.
The move to shut down Freevee has been coming for some time. Reports emerged as early as February that the service was planning to close down, but at that time Amazon denied that there was any intention to make major changes to the streamer.
But once Amazon began rebranding “Freevee Channels” as “Fire TV Channels” for owners of Amazon Fire TV devices in August, the writing seemed to be on the wall that the company was getting ready to move away from the Freevee brand, leading me to speculate that the move was a precursor to a wider shutdown of Freevee.
Content that was formerly on Freevee will be moved to a “Watch for Free” tab in the Prime Video interface. It will still be available at no cost to audiences who don’t pay for a Prime Video subscription, similar to the way non-subscribers can still rent or buy movies from Prime Video.
“We have built Prime Video into a first-stop entertainment destination where customers can personalize their viewing experience by streaming exclusive Prime member entertainment produced by Amazon MGM Studios, licensed movies and series, content from other services as an add-on subscription, live sports, blockbuster movies and series to rent or buy, FAST Channels and the complete Amazon Freevee content offering,” an Amazon spokesperson told Deadline, who first reported the news. “To deliver a simpler viewing experience for customers, we have decided to phase out Freevee branding. There will be no change to the content available for Prime members, and a vast offering of free streaming content will still be accessible for non-Prime members, including select Originals from Amazon MGM Studios, a variety of licensed movies and series, and a broad library of FAST Channels – all available on Prime Video.”
The decision to shut down Freevee will allow Amazon to consolidate its streaming costs. Operating two separate streaming apps for the services while keeping the customer experience on both relatively similar was always a bit of a drain on resources for the company, and now it gets to cut those costs and simplify the experience for customers at the same time.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is a subscription video streaming service that includes on-demand access to 10,000+ movies, TV shows, and Prime Originals like “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “Jack Ryan,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Boys,” and more. Subscribers can also add third-party services like Max, Showtime, STARZ, and dozens more with Amazon Prime Video Channels. Prime Video also offers exclusive live access to NFL Thursday Night Football.