History
Prime Video, or also commonly known as Amazon Prime Video, is a U.S. based internet video on demand service offered by Amazon. The platform allows users to watch Amazon original content, licensed content, purchase or rent movies. The service originally launched in 2006 as Amazon Unbox and eventually evolved to Prime Video with the development of Amazon Prime. Prime Video boasts about 40 million subscribers worldwide.
Content
Prime Video has an impressive growing collection of original content in addition to popular TV shows and movies. In addition to programs solely available for streaming, Amazon has a vast collection of movies and TV shows available to buy or rent. Prime Video doesn’t deliver brand new content quite like its competitors Netflix or Hulu, but that’s not to say that any user will have a hard time finding something to watch on Prime Video. Most will say Prime Video’s original content outshines Hulu’s original series.
Popular TV shows on Prime Video include Award Winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Bosch, Fleabag, Good Omens, Man in the High Castle, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan and others, just to name a few. Prime Video is also set to release a series based upon The Lord of the Rings franchise.
In addition to original content, users also have access to Amazon’s licensed library of TV show favorites from HBO that include Boardwalk Empire, Deadwood, The Sopranos, The Wire, and Veep. Users can also access other top shows from other networks such as Mr. Robot, The Americans, Parks and Recreation, The X-Files and Hannibal at no additional cost.
For sports fans, Prime Video will host some NFL games on Thursday nights, in addition to the “All or Nothing” series that follows around various sports professional teams during their season. Prime Video users can add Prime Video Channels that are a bit more sports-focused.
Pricing
There are two different ways users can access Prime Video, through their Amazon Prime Subscription or through a standalone Amazon Video subscription.
- Amazon Prime Member (access to Amazon Prime plus Prime Video)
- $12.99 per month
- $119 annually
- Prime Video Subscription Service
- $8.99 per month
If you’re a student, you can get an Amazon Prime subscription for $6.49 a month or $59 a year and this plan is inclusive of all of the regular Amazon Prime member perks.
Prime Video also lets users on the Amazon Prime membership subscribe to other content providers for a monthly fee. Providers include:
- CBS All Access ($9.99 per month)
- Cinemax ($9.99 per month)
- HBO ($14.99 per month)
- Showtime ($8.99 per month)
- Starz ($8.99 per month)
For customers wanting to rent a movie, the price can range from $2.99 to $5.99. Buying a movie title can range from $7.99 to $14.99. Price can vary depending on if the program is in SD or HD, but sometimes the picture options can cost the same.
Features
Prime Video has several cool features that enhance their customers’ viewing experience. Customers are able to use their mobile device to download select programs to watch offline. In addition, users can stream content in 4K HDR- making for crystal-clear viewing.
Prime Video also has an “X-Ray” feature powered by IMDb. It’s a transparent overlay that contains information about the actors or actresses in a scene, information about the movie, and other cool nuggets of cinema information.
Capable Devices
Amazon Prime Video is available through a number of different platforms. Customers can access Prime Video through Smart TVs, Blu-ray players, Fire phones, Fire tablets, Android devices and iOS devices. Users can also access the streaming platform through Roku, Google TV, TiVO, Nvidia Shield, PlayStation, Xbox and Wii. Customers can also use Amazon devices such as the Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick.
Anyone who opts for a Prime Video subscription will not be disappointed by the streaming platform. With its vast variety of old and new content, both original and licensed, users will find hours of entertainment at the click of a button, at a cost that won’t break the bank.
