We’re not very surprised to hear Amazon is shutting down Freevee now that Prime Video has ads. In fact, Amazon had to go out of its way to say it would not do so earlier in the year. But it did seem kind of inevitable. Amazon’s free ad-supported video streaming service is no more. RIP, Freevee.
In a statement, Amazon shared of Freevee’s shutdown, “We have built Prime Video into a first-stop entertainment destination where customers can personalize their viewing experience by streaming exclusive Prime member entertainment produced by Amazon MGM Studios, licensed movies and series, content from other services as an add-on subscription, live sports, blockbuster movies and series to rent or buy, FAST [free, ad-supported streaming TV] channels and the complete Amazon Freevee content offering.”
Additionally, the platform noted that despite the shutdown of Freevee (emphasis on “Free”) most things would remain free to consumers, Freevee or not. Amazon shared, “To deliver a simpler viewing experience for customers, we have decided to phase out Freevee branding. There will be no change to the content available for Prime members, and a vast offering of free streaming content will still be accessible for non-Prime members, including select originals from Amazon MGM Studios, a variety of licensed movies and series, and a broad library of FAST channels – all available on Prime Video.”
“A vast offering of free streaming content will still be accessible for non-Prime members” sounds good in theory. But how long before that aspect of it shuts down, too, like Freevee before it? We suppose we can’t worry about that now. Those missing Freevee but not subscribed to Prime Video can find this free content in the “Watch for Free” section of Prime Video.
The now-defunct Freevee brought us original series like Jury Duty, Bosch: Legacy, Neighbors, and Alex Rider. We salute it for its service.