Amazon issues update on the future of free streaming service after TV fans panic about the fate of beloved shows
AMAZON has denied reports that its free streaming service Freevee is closing down.
The online retailer and tech giant’s free Amazon Prime Video alternative is home to a number of major shows including Aussie soap Neighbours.
Amazon offered a new home for the long-running show months after it was axed by Channel 5.
But fans feared it would face the chop again if Freevee shut up shop.
Sources told AdWeek that Amazon was planning to sunset the service after introducing adverts to its paid Amazon Prime Video site.
But a spokesperson for Amazon told The Sun that the report is inaccurate.
“There are no changes to Freevee,” they said.
“Amazon Freevee remains an important streaming offering providing both Prime and non-Prime customers thousands of hit movies, shows, and Originals, all for free.”
Neighbours fans have breathed a sigh of relief over the announcement.
“I was really worried about Amazon freevee I love watching neighbours on it,” one viewer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Well, that’s good news for Neighbours,” another said.
Amazon signed a deal to bring back Neighbours last year, with new episodes starting in September.
It’s believed the firm signed a deal with production company Freemantle to produces the soap for two years with over 200 episodes.
New episodes are added to the service from Monday to Thursday.
Streaming overload: Should Freevee go?
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Senior Technology and Science Reporter at The Sun
Freevee only emerged onto the scene in 2022 – though it started life as IMDB TV in 2019.
So hearing a report that it was being “sunset” this soon came as a slight shock, though this happens all too often with big tech companies (just take a look at the Google graveyard…)
Back in December, I saw a massive billboard takeover at London Waterloo station advertising Neighbours and Freevee. It was a pleasant surprise to see the soap get such big exposure and seemed to show Amazon is still very much committed to Freevee as a standalone product.
Having a free streaming platform supported by adverts makes sense as people tighten their belts.
But with the introduction of adverts on Amazon Prime Video the two services are more aligned than ever.
Indeed, you can even access Freevee within the Amazon Prime Video app and website.
Mergers are the “in thing” among streamers at the moment, both paid and free, which usually sees the weaker brand disappear.
Forgotten BritBox UK has been merged with ITVX, and Channel 5’s streaming service is planning to combine with free platform Pluto TV soon.
Across the pond, there’s talk of Warner and Paramount merging, and then Paramount+ and Peacock bundling together.
Freevee lives on – at least for now.