Amazon Prime Video and SkyShowtime confirm ads for USA and the only way to remove them is to pay. Alternatives? Apple TV+ and nothing else

It’s been almost six months since Amazon Prime Video confirmed the arrival of advertisements on the platform. USA has been included in these plans, although only until now have they confirmed when and what this would look like. SkyShowtime announced it a few days ago and today they also confirmed its conditions.

These two platforms join the recent changes to Disney+ and Netflix plans with announcements for some time. And all this with Max’s arrival in USA on the horizon. Paying more for the best quality and eliminating ads is already present in almost all major streaming companies.. Among the rare exceptions is Apple TV+.

What’s changing now on Prime Video and SkyShowtime?

Amazon and SkyShowtime already are send emails notifying subscribers of changes. Changes that will affect not only them, but also new subscribers.

For Amazon Prime Video We find ourselves in (almost) identical conditions. The packages at 4.99 dollars per month and 49.90 dollars per year are maintained, with the video platform finally being part of the Prime subscription. What happens is that from April 9 they will place advertisements on all users, allowing them to pay an additional 1.99 dollars every month to eliminate them.

In the case of SkyShowtime The changes are similar, but with differences. And from April 23, the current plan at 4.99 dollars per month will receive advertisements, and those who benefited from the 2.99 dollars offer will start paying 3.99 dollars while also having advertisements. To benefit from an advertising-free package, you will have to upgrade to the new package called “Standard Plus” at 7.99 dollars per month.

All things being equal, Apple TV+ and Prime Video remain among the most profitable

The continued changes in the streaming world are not entirely beneficial for the user. Here Even Apple TV+ isn’t spared, having grown 100.2% in just two yearssince they recently increased the price again, leaving far behind the 4.99 dollars per month that it cost when it was launched.

Despite this, Apple TV+ continues to position itself, alongside the Spanish Filmin, as the most profitable large platform if we want the highest resolution and the absence of advertising. Also HBO Max, although its days are numbered with the move to Max already confirmed for this year. The comparison between streaming platforms in these maximum ad-free versions looks like this:

In view of these prices, we see that, for practical reasons, SkyShowtime remains cheaper than Apple TV+, even if its resolution limitation is an element to take into account. In the case of Prime Video is still paid both for the price and for the other benefits, since in the end other features of the Prime subscription are also included.

Now though, Apple has a pack that makes it even more interesting if you have an ecosystem of Apple products and want to take advantage of its services. We are talking about Apple One. It’s not literally that it paid for itself, but almost. For example, with a standard family subscription between six people (including us) it can cost 4.33 dollars per month or 5.83 dollars per month in the most advanced formula.

The advantage of Apple One is that in addition to the television platform iCloud storage, access to Apple Music, Apple Arcade and even Apple Fitness+ are also included (the latter in the most advanced plane).

Cover image | Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

In Applesfera | These are the 33 best Apple TV+ series according to reviews. Get up to three months free to watch them!

In Applesfera | Apple TV+ and its premieres: the next series, films and documentaries that we will see in its catalog