Amazon Prime Video to Introduce Ads from June 17, 2025 – What You Should Know

Amazon has officially announced a major change coming to Prime Video – starting June 17, 2025, users will begin seeing advertisements on movies and TV shows. Here’s everything you need to know about the update, the new ad-free add-on, and how it affects your Prime membership in India.

📺 What’s Changing?

From June 17, 2025, Amazon Prime Video will begin showing “limited advertisements” on its content. This includes popular titles such as Mirzapur, Panchayat, The Boys, Reacher, and more.

Amazon says this shift will allow them to continue investing in high-quality content while keeping the base Prime membership cost unchanged.

💸 How Much Will the Ad-Free Plan Cost?

If you’d prefer to keep your Prime Video experience ad-free, Amazon will offer a new optional add-on:

• ₹129 per month

• Or ₹699 per year (discounted from ₹999 originally announced)

This option becomes available from June 17, 2025.

⚠️ Important Note: Even with the ad-free upgrade, MX Player content on Prime will still include ads.

🧾 What’s NOT Changing?

Despite this change to Prime Video, all other Prime membership benefits remain unchanged, including:

• Fast & Free Delivery: Same-day delivery on over 10 lakh items and next-day delivery on 40 lakh+ items

• Entertainment Access: Blockbuster shows & Amazon Originals like Farzi, Paatal Lok, Citadel, Fallout, and more

• Partner Subscriptions: Add-on access to channels like Apple TV+, Lionsgate Play, Crunchyroll, and others

• Music & Podcasts: Unlimited ad-free songs and podcasts on Amazon Music

• Gaming Perks: Prime Gaming access with free monthly content

• Reading Benefits: Rotating library of e-books, comics, and magazines

• Shopping Deals: Exclusive Prime Day deals, early access to sales, and 5% cashback with Amazon Pay ICICI Card

🤔 Why Is Amazon Adding Ads?

Amazon’s official reasoning is to continue investing in “compelling content” without increasing the base price of Prime membership. By offering fewer ads than traditional TV and rival platforms, they aim to strike a balance between revenue and user satisfaction.

🔍 How Does It Compare?

With this move, Amazon Prime Video joins the ranks of Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar, which also offer ad-supported plans. However, Amazon claims their ads will be “meaningfully fewer” than competitors.

🧾 Can I Cancel My Membership?

Yes. If you’re unhappy with this change, you can:

• Cancel your Prime membership

• Receive a pro-rated refund for the unused portion

• Or view/manage your subscription via your Amazon account

📝 Final Thoughts

The inclusion of ads is a big shift for Amazon Prime Video, which has long been an ad-free streaming platform. However, with a reasonably priced ad-free upgrade and continued access to premium content, the impact might be less disruptive than it seems.

If you’re a frequent Prime Video viewer, the ₹699/year add-on could be worth it. If you don’t mind a few ads, you can continue without spending extra.