Incredible: streaming services really can't do this!

You might find it hard to imagine, but there was a time when Netflix didn't exist at all. You watched a movie in the cinema, or if it happened to come on TV. But then you had to sit through those endless commercials. With the arrival of streaming services, that time seemed to be over. Finally, we could watch our favorite titles without interruption. Until now. That carefree time is coming to an end more and more. And there, dear streamers, we need to talk about it.

Prime Video, is this really necessary?

Personally, I completely overlooked this. But anyone with a Prime Video subscription must have received that dreadful email. Not a nice announcement of a new title, but a message we would rather not have received. Starting at the end of August, Prime will be running ads during movies or series. So just imagine: just when it finally becomes clear who the brutal murderer is, you get asked if you happen to want to watch these titles too. Nobody is waiting for that, right? There is an option to avoid these ads. But you can already sense it coming; then you have to pay more. An extra €2.99. Doesn't sound like much. But just think that a subscription used to cost €4.99. So for a binge night without interruptions, you will now pay almost double. Not okay, Prime.

Ad invasion: Prime is not the only streaming service

Before we all storm the Prime Video office: the streaming service is not the only one participating in the ad invasion. Actually, Videoland was the first major culprit. They already came out with various subscriptions in 2020; where the option with ads was of course cheaper. Then came Disney+, HBO Max, SkyShowtime, and Viaplay. Our favorite titles are now so spread out everywhere that we can't manage with just one subscription anymore. That higher price tag is therefore hard to avoid.

Prices don't just rise

Now you're probably wondering: why, and why now? We are a bit guilty of that ourselves. When streaming services first saw the digital light of day, they had one important goal: to attract as many customers as possible and beat the competition. And what works best? A subscription that costs as little as possible. Now that we have all fallen for that trick, concerns about having enough members have completely disappeared. The big bosses know we will still watch, and so they happily raise the prices. With a nice binge addiction by now, you have to be strong in your shoes stand to drop out now.

The tricks keep working

Maybe you're thinking now: I'm really not going to pay more. That ad break is a nice moment to grab some snacks. It feels like you're thwarting the streaming service and their plan is failing, but I have to disappoint you. They are not losing any sleep over it. It's actually exactly what they want. Even if we don't switch to the more expensive subscriptions, they still make a ton of extra money; all thanks to those ads, which bring in a lot. It's unfair, we know.

What can we expect next?

Now that Amazon Prime has also given in, the question is who will follow. Netflix seems to be holding back for now and not choosing ads. Although you could question whether offering standard more expensive subscriptions is really that nice. In some other countries, the Netflix bosses have already taken that step. Maybe our uninterrupted viewing time is therefore short-lived. An extra reason to make good use of it while we can. It's also exciting with Apple TV. They currently don't have ads anywhere, but rumors about changes have been around for years. It's a bit like that jumpscare you know is coming; but when. Streaming services, give us a break. Thank you.

Image: Credit: Lorenzo Sisti Copyright: © 2025 Amazon Content Services LLC. Source: Tweakers