What is the Difference Between Amazon Prime Video and Amazon IMDb TV?
The streaming wars are in full swing, though they’re really only just beginning. While Disney+, Apple TV+ and Netflix are the Big Three everyone’s watching, numerous other streaming services have been going a while without much notice. Two of those is Amazon Prime Video and Amazon’s IMDb TV.
Of course, Amazon’s main streaming service is considered in the Top Five of all streaming platforms, if not higher for some. Not everyone knows Amazon also owns and operates IMDb TV, which is the latest addition to the little talked about AVOD (ad-supported video-on-demand) roster.
This might confuse those who want to stream things on Amazon, yet not wanting to pay the monthly fee for Prime service. Take a minute to learn the difference and why AVOD might make more headway in the upcoming streaming jousts of the 2020s.
Amazon Prime Video alone is a competitive streaming service
Anyone who has Amazon Prime already knows it’s not a bargain service, even if you can argue it’s more than worth the price considering what’s available. At $99 per year, the complete Amazon Prime service gives you more than the video option, including having APV for free. However, if you want to just have Amazon Prime Video alone, it’s fairly competitive at $8.99 per month.
According to recent statistics, Amazon’s Prime Video service is expected to hit 100 million subscribers globally in 2020, which tells you they probably won’t be one of the losers in the streaming wars.
Considering they do have award-winning original shows and many hit movies, it’s really the most successful counterpart to Netflix out there. Yet, Amazon knows not everyone has the desire to want to pay out a monthly fee to watch streaming content. They (or let’s say Jeff Bezos) likely understood that free streaming services have a real market, outside of having more limited content.
Earlier this year, they decided to launch IMDb TV, which was initially called Freedive before changing to its former name.
How many people are watching IMDb TV?
Never discount the value of free when it comes to streaming. The AVOD market has already been around a while, though hardly gets much mention in the media. Yes, it’s true you won’t see new original shows or the latest movies on these platforms. Nevertheless, if you’re into retro TV and a fan of some good movies some people missed, it can be worth your time.
Changing from Freedive to IMDb TV was probably the smartest thing Amazon could do to re-market this free service. Anyone can access it either through IMDb’s app, or through the Amazon Prime Video app.
Amazon recently said their IMDb TV runs half the ads normal TV does, making it an attractive option for those who don’t want to watch it like a regular network. They’re far from the only AVOD service out there with ones from Roku and Walmart dominating this under-reported streaming niche.
With 200 million reportedly visiting IMDb TV as well, it’s clear another streaming war is going on in the AVOD field.
Will Amazon come out as the winner in the streaming battle?
Let’s never underestimate Amazon in anything since many thought they were down for the count several times until Jeff Bezos’ uncanny business sense proved everyone wrong. They practically rule the world in many departments now beyond e-commerce.
If they continue to have a sharp sixth-sense on what people want to see in original shows, Amazon Prime Video could end up at #1 eventually with Netflix and Disney+ by next year.
Offering free IMDb TV alongside was one of the greatest psychological marketing moves to make consumers realize they’re gaining a little extra content on the same site without having to pay for it.
