Amazon Shoots Down Reports about Ad-Supported Streaming Launch

By Daniel Frankel
last updated

Amazon said it has no plans to launch an ad-supported video on demand platform for its Fire TV streaming ecosystem.

“We have no plans to build an ad-supported Prime Video offering for free at this time,” Amazon investor relations director Dave Fildes said during the online retail giant’s third-quarter earnings call Thursday. 

During the call, Amazon executives were asked about an Aug. 28 report in The Information, suggesting Amazon was about to launch, through its IMDB unit, a free-to-consumer, ad-supported streaming service, similar to the Roku Channel, for Fire TV devices.

Later, CNBC picked up the story, suggesting Amazon was going to announce the new app at the Advertising Week event in New York during the first week of October. (MCN aggregated both reports.)

Daniel Frankel
Daniel Frankel

Daniel Frankel is the managing editor of Next TV, an internet publishing vertical focused on the business of video streaming. A Los Angeles-based writer and editor who has covered the media and technology industries for more than two decades, Daniel has worked on staff for publications including E! Online, Electronic Media, Mediaweek, Variety, paidContent and GigaOm. You can start living a healthier life with greater wealth and prosperity by following Daniel on Twitter today!