Amazon Prime Video Now Charges Extra For Content With Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
Amazon Prime Video, the tech giant's popular streaming service, has made it clear that the luxuries of Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos immersive audio will no longer be part of the standard subscription package.
This move, which has generated some stir among users, is in addition to another significant change previously announced: the introduction of ads within the content, an addition that was not liked by many subscribers. Now, for those who want to get back the premium audio quality and avoid ads, they will have to shell out an extra cost on their monthly plans.
According to Amazon spokesperson Katie Barker, it has been confirmed that Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos capabilities will be exclusively offered in the subscription option without ads. This means that users who want to enjoy these high-fidelity audio standards will have to choose to pay an additional $2.99 per month to remove ads from their viewing experience.
Audio and video quality
The news comes after several users noticed a change in the audio and video quality on their smart TVs from brands such as Sony, LG and Samsung. Instead of experiencing Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos, they were faced with content in HDR10 with Dolby Digital 5.1, a clear reduction in the quality they had previously been enjoying.
This move by Amazon comes at a time when price increases on streaming services are becoming more common. For example, Netflix has increased its rates to $22.99 per month for its 4K subscription tier. However, comparing prices between Amazon Prime Video and Netflix can be a bit complicated due to the different subscription structures.
Initially, Amazon Prime Video was available as part of an overall Amazon Prime subscription, which offers benefits like free two-day, one-day, and even same-day shipping for a fee of $15 per month or $139 per year. With this new change, users now face an 18% increase in their monthly fee if they want to access the full Prime Video experience without ads and with premium audio quality.
Up to 28% more expensive
For those who choose to subscribe only to Prime Video, the price increase is even more notable. With a monthly fee of $8.99, adding the extra $2.99 to remove ads and access Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos represents a 28% increase in the total cost.
It is important to note that while Amazon offers a competitive streaming experience, the introduction of ads and increased prices may lead some users to consider other options on the market. For example, Disney Plus offers an ad-supported subscription for $9.99 per month, while Netflix has a basic service option for $6.99 per month, although the latter is limited to 1080p resolution.
Amazon's decision to separate Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos features from its standard subscription package and offer them as an additional paid option reflects growing competition in the streaming market and the search for new forms of monetization by companies. digital content platforms. For Amazon Prime Video users, this means that those who want to enjoy the highest quality audio and video will have to open their wallets a little wider.
