Amazon increases cost of Prime Video
JULY 26, 2022 12.13 EUROPE/LONDON BY JULIAN CLOVER

The cost of a monthly subscription to Amazon Prime in the UK is to rise by £1 per month to £8.99 from the middle of September.

The parcels to showbiz company is blaming “increased inflation and operating costs”.

Annual subscriptions will also increase from £79 to £95 or their equivalent in European currencies.

In a letter emailed to subscribers overnight. Amazon said it was the first increase it had implemented in the UK since 2014. It will apply to renewals starting 15 September 2022.

Amazon Prime began with expedited delivery of items to subscribers and later added digital entertainment, including TV, movies, music, games, and books. It has also begun ultra-fast fresh grocery delivery.

In September, Prime Video will launch the much-anticipated The Lord Of The Rings: the Rings Of Power series at a cost of £750 million. It has also invested in sports rights with coverage of Premier League football, Champions League football from 2024 and international rugby.

Last week, Amazon Prime began the rollout of a new user interface.

The increase is the latest price rise among the major streamers and follows a £1 rise from Netflix, £2 for premium subscribers, in March and a £2 increase on Disney+ subscriptions in February.