Amazon increases its UK prices: Prime subscription will jump from £7.99 to £8.99 a month from September 15 due to ‘increased inflation and operating costs’
- Amazon is to hike the price of its Prime delivery and streaming service in the UK
- The technology giant has blamed it on ‘increased inflation and operating costs’
- Will increase price of Prime from £7.99 each month to £8.99 from September 15
- Annual membership will increase from £79 to £95 per year for customers in UK
Amazon has announced that it will hike the price of its Prime delivery and streaming service for UK customers, blaming ‘increased inflation and operating costs’.
The US technology giant said it will increase the price of Prime from £7.99 each month to £8.99 from September 15 for new customers, or on the date of the customer’s next renewal.
Annual membership will increase from £79 to £95 per year in the UK.
Amazon offers free unlimited delivery, entertainment streaming and live sport through its Prime subscription service.
A spokeswoman for the company said: ‘Prime offers the best of shopping and entertainment, and continues to improve each year.
‘We have increased the number of products available with fast, unlimited Prime delivery, recently added ultra-fast fresh grocery delivery, and have significantly expanded our high-quality digital entertainment, including TV, movies, music, games, and books.
‘With increased inflation and operating costs in the UK continuing to rise, we will change the price of Prime.’
Amazon has announced that it will hike the price of its Prime delivery and streaming service for UK customers, blaming ‘increased inflation and operating costs’
NEW AMAZON PRIME PRICES
From September 15 for new customers, or on the date of the customer’s next renewal, Amazon will increase the cost of its Prime subscription.
- It will go up from £7.99 to £8.99 each month
- Annual membership will increase from £79 to £95 per year in the UK
Amazon has pumped billions of pounds into its streaming content in recent years, with original series such as The Boys and The Terminal List.
In September, the Prime Video platform will release The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power series, which cost an estimated £750 million in rights and filming costs.
The company is also investing millions into sports rights, having earlier this month secured the rights to show some Champions League matches from 2024, adding to its rights for 20 Premier League games each season.
The Prime price increase is the service’s first since 2014.
It comes months after Netflix increased basic and standard plans by £1 a month, while its premium plan was pushed £2 higher, only 18 months after a previous increase.
The streaming giant said the price changes would allow it to ‘continue investing in best in class UK productions’ and ‘offer a wide variety of curated quality shows and films’ to customers.
The UK is Netflix’s biggest production hub outside the US and Canada, with a $1 billion dollar UK production budget in 2020.
Netflix’s decision to hike prices again came amid controversy over the cost of living in the UK, and sparked backlash from some users.
However, one user pointed out that the UK public can enjoy Netflix at a cheaper price than the TV licence, which costs £159 a year (averaging £13.25 per month).
Also, at £6.99 per month, Netflix’s basic package is still cheaper than some of its closest streaming rivals – Disney+ and Amazon Prime (both currently £7.99 per month).
WHAT ARE THE VIDEO STREAMING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO UK CUSTOMERS?
Netflix
Price: From £6.99 a month
Hit shows:
- Bridgerton
- Squid Game
Amazon Prime
Price: £7.99 per month OR £79 per year
Hit shows:
- Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
- The Boys
Apple TV+
Price: £4.99 a month
Hit shows:
- Ted Lasso
- For All Mankind
Disney+
Price: £7.99 a month OR £79.90 a year
Hit shows:
- The Mandalorian
- The Simpsons
NOW TV
Price: From £9.99 a month
Hit shows:
- Game of Thrones
- Chernobyl
hayu
Price: £4.99 a month
Hit shows:
- Keeping up with the Kardashians
- Made in Chelsea
BritBox
Price: £5.99 a month
Hit shows:
- Spitting Image
- Midsomer Murders
Prices correct as of July 2022
Source: Read Full Article
