New to Amazon streaming--why isn't everything free?

[Anonymous]

At least this is how it looks to me online. We already have Netflix where there are no extra charges. When I look up various films it displays rental prices. And if I'm correct that not everything is free then this is exactly why we hardly shop at Amazon--too many pricing schemes that make it too much of a learning curve for the casual shopper (I mean for food and grocery type items).

[Anonymous]

I think it sometimes depends on the deal the organization that holds the rights makes with the streaming service. If it’s not available to stream as part of a package anywhere then I think the options are rent or nothing. I use the app JustWatch, it tells me where things are streaming for free, as part of a subscription, or as a rental. I don’t think it’s an Amazon scam to just have it as a rental.

[Anonymous]

I’d rather have it available as a rental on amazon than not at all.

[Anonymous]

The problem is that they combine their free and paid videos on the same platform. I wish they'd separate them. I also wish they had a platform that was easier to sort and navigate through, but it clearly works for them.

[Anonymous]

Amazon is the Blockbuster of the internet. Lots of content, almost all of it for a fee.

You do have to do work to minimze your entertainment costs these days. As PP noted, you can search online for shows you want to watch and see where they are offered for free or no extra cost after subscription.

We cycle through Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime -- a few months on Netflix, then a few on Hulu, then a few on Prime. Once we've exhausted interesting content on one provider, we cancel the subscription and start another.

All of them have original content, so there's usually something new and interesting when you newly subscribe. And if we wait a couple of months, we can binge all of shows like Handmaid's Tale that still have weekly episodes.

[Anonymous]

It's mostly annoying to me because the kids get super frustrated when they pick a show or movie and then can't watch it. It takes forever to pick and agree on a movie and then figure out if it's free.

[Anonymous]

I don’t really have a problem with it. I only let my kids choose from “included with prime” titles and they all have a banner on the left hand side that says “prime”. It’s the same as when we’re using our Xfinity DVR, we only pick from the free movies On Demand even though they have plenty of movies and shows that you have to pay for.

[Anonymous]

Well you can rent new releases on Amazon not Netflix. So Amazon is offering a valuable service Netflix, Hulu and HBO don't. Think of a random movie you love from childhood. At least through Amazon, you can probably see it.

[Anonymous]

I don’t want to derail OPs thread, but is there a way to watch amazon movies on iPads?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well you can rent new releases on Amazon not Netflix. So Amazon is offering a valuable service Netflix, Hulu and HBO don't. Think of a random movie you love from childhood. At least through Amazon, you can probably see it.

But you have to pay for it. I can’t believe ppl pay for Hulu and deal with commercials. What’s the point.

Netflix has had most movies on their site for free at some point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to derail OPs thread, but is there a way to watch amazon movies on iPads?

Yes, just download the Prime Video app to your iPad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to derail OPs thread, but is there a way to watch amazon movies on iPads?

Yes, just download the Prime Video app to your iPad.

Yes, and the iPad app is so much better than TV or laptop, IMO. Even when I'm going to watch something on my laptop or TV, I use the iPad app to browse and figure out what I want to watch. Same for Netflix.

[Anonymous]

OP, I agree. I really thought paying an annual fee for Amazon Prime would include all video content too. Pretty misleading.

[Anonymous]

It does include all "Prime content", they just have additional content that's not Prime content. I don't have any problem with it, though agree with some that it could be easier to navigate. There is some really great content available on Prime though, I have no complaints with it. Especially children's programming, most of my kids' favorite shows have been on Prime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I agree. I really thought paying an annual fee for Amazon Prime would include all video content too. Pretty misleading.

That wouldn't make much sense if you think about it. Amazon offers, in some form, pretty much anything that's ever been produced. There is no way they could afford to license the entire universe of content to be available on Prime. They do produce a lot of original content and license a reasonable amount of other content, always changing and updating what they offer. If they did, they would be providing pretty much everything available on Netflix, HBO, Showtime, and every other streaming service except for original programs.