By CE Critic - Buy Better Tech

Table of Contents

• Amazon Prime Video Ad-Tier Introduction
• Amazon's Unconventional Strategy
• Technical Downgrades: Loss of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
• Amazon's Silence on Feature Removal
• Potential Reasons

Amazon Prime Video Ad-Tier: Technical Issues and User Frustration

Amazon recently rolled out a new ad-supported tier for its Prime Video streaming service, causing frustration among its existing subscriber base. Let's break down the situation and its technical implications.

Amazon's Unconventional Strategy

Unlike popular streaming platforms that introduce cheaper ad-supported tiers as an option, Amazon chose to incorporate ads into its core Prime Video subscription by default. To maintain an ad-free experience, users now need to pay an additional $2.99/£2.99 per month. This decision was particularly disruptive as it applied to existing subscriptions.

Technical Downgrades: Loss of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos

The introduction of the ad-supported tier has further disappointed users with the removal of key premium features: Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos sound. Those on the ad-supported tier lose access to these immersive visual and audio technologies.

Amazon's Silence on Feature Removal

Surprisingly, Amazon's official communications regarding the ad-supported tier made no mention of this downgrade. This omission has compounded subscriber frustration.

Potential Reasons

The reasons behind Amazon's silence remain unclear. Here are some possible explanations:

• Oversight: The loss of Dolby features could be a simple oversight in Amazon's communication.
• Awkward Admission: With backlash surrounding the introduction of ads, Amazon might have avoided announcing the loss of premium features to minimize further negative reactions.
• Technical Limitations: There may be inherent technical challenges in supporting Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos within an ad-supported streaming model.

Conclusion

The launch of Amazon Prime Video's ad-supported tier has significantly impacted the user experience. Beyond the expected presence of ads, the unexplained removal of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos highlights another drawback for subscribers. Whether the downgrade is intentional or temporary remains to be seen.