Curated By: Shaurya Sharma
Last Updated: February 13, 2024, 11:27 IST
Seattle, Washington State, USA
Amazon wants users to pay more for its services.
Amazon has removed Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos surround sound from the basic ad-supported tier, and wants users to pay more if they want to continue enjoying these.
Streaming services, including Amazon Prime and Netflix, are consistently seeking ways to streamline their plans and maximise profits from their user base. And now, the latest move comes from Amazon’s end.
It is now confirmed that Amazon has removed Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos surround sound from the basic ad-supported tier, and wants users to pay more if they desire these features along with an ad-free experience.
This change comes after the video streaming giant, starting from January 29, 2024, began displaying ads with the standard plan, and now requires users in the US, UK, Germany, and Canada to pay an extra $2.99 for an ad-free experience. This simply means, that now, when you pay the additional $2.99 for an ad-free experience, you also regain access to Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
This information was initially reported by 4KFilme, as they discovered that their TVs from brands like LG, Sony, and even Samsung were showing Amazon Prime content in HDR10 and Dolby Digital 5.1, rather than Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
Since then, The Verge has confirmed this change, as affirmed by an Amazon spokesperson. “Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos capabilities are only available on the ad-free option, for relevant titles,” Amazon’s Katie Barker told the publication.
Currently, there is no information on whether these changes will be implemented in India as well. At present, users in India pay Rs 1,499 for the all-inclusive Amazon Prime membership for a duration of one year, or they can opt for Rs 299 per month, or Rs 599 for three months.
