Amazon Removes Dolby Vision and Atmos from Basic US Plans, Charges $2.99 for Access and Ad-Free Viewing.
Amazon has confirmed that the Prime Video subscription does not include Dolby Vision HDR or Dolby Atmos Surround Sound. This change took effect immediately after Amazon enabled ads by default for all Prime Video subscribers.
However, users can access these features and an ad-free experience by paying an additional $2.99 monthly.
It was reported that Sony, LG, and Samsung smart TVs now only play content in HDR10 with Dolby Digital 5.1, despite previously supporting the features above.
Amazon Prime Video was offered as part of the Amazon Prime subscription. Users were attracted to the Amazon ecosystem, where they could benefit from free and faster shipping by paying $15 a month or $139 annually.
However, users now have to bear an additional cost of 18 per cent to access the optimal video platform experience.
The standalone Prime Video subscription costs $8.99 per month, and subscribers may need to pay 28% more for the ad-free experience.
In related news, Amazon Prime’s introduction of an ad-supported tier has sparked controversy among its subscribers, leading to a class-action lawsuit against the company for alleged misleading practices.
However, Amazon has yet to introduce the ad tier in other regions like India, and it continues to support Dolby Vision and Atmos audio in the standard subscription itself.
Price hikes have become common in the OTT industry. Netflix charges $22.99 for its 4K tier and offers ad-tier subscriptions for $6.99 monthly, which offers only up to 1080p video streaming.
Ragul Thangavel
With over nine years of diverse professional experience, Ragul has made significant contributions across various domains, including Media Operations, OTT Technologies, Video Production, Ecommerce, and Social Media.
Holding an Engineering degree, Ragul's career took an unconventional turn when he discovered his passion for writing, leading him to begin his journey as a content writer.
His career has been exclusively dedicated to the growth and development of startups, where he has played a pivotal role. His unique blend of technical knowledge and creative prowess has enabled him to drive innovation and success in every venture he has been a part of.