Amazon is saying goodbye to Freevee – its free, ad-supported streaming service. The company recently announced that it’s phasing out Freevee in the coming weeks as part of a plan to centralize all of its free content into Amazon Prime Video.
If you’re one of the many viewers who turned to Freevee for its free mix of movies, shows, and live channels, you’re probably wondering where to turn for free content. And if you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, you might be curious how this shift affects your viewing experience on Prime Video.
Here’s a look at what’s behind this decision, what happens to Freevee’s shows, and how Amazon plans to streamline free content going forward.
Why Freevee Is Shutting Down
Freevee launched in 2019, originally under the name IMDb TV. It was created to serve the simple purpose of delivering free content to viewers willing to sit through ads. For Amazon, Freevee represented a testing ground for ad-supported streaming – an experiment that, at least initially, proved popular.
However, 2024 brought a major shift to Amazon’s streaming strategy. Amazon introduced ads on its main Prime Video platform. This update led to the line between Amazon’s paid, formerly ad-free service – Prime Video – and its free, ad-supported option – Freevee – becoming blurrier.
After this change, many users and industry insiders began to speculate about Freevee’s future. Amazon previously denied rumors of Freevee’s shutdown, but it turns out that the transition is happening nonetheless.
“To deliver a simpler viewing experience for customers, we have decided to phase out Freevee branding,” an Amazon spokesperson explained to Deadline, “There will be no change to the content available for Prime members, and a vast offering of free streaming content will still be accessible for non-Prime members, including select Originals from Amazon MGM Studios, a variety of licensed movies and series, and a broad library of FAST Channels – all available on Prime Video.”
So, what does this mean for you?
If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, you won’t see any major disruptions – just a more streamlined interface where all Amazon’s free and paid content is in one place. Prime members still get access to Prime Video content, which now includes most of the free content that was formerly available on Freevee.
And, if you don’t have Prime, you can still access Freevee’s former library with ads. You’ll just have to watch it directly from the free section of the Amazon Prime Video app.
What Amazon is essentially doing is consolidating its resources. By merging Freevee into Prime Video, the company can focus its efforts on making one single streaming service the best place for all users, whether they pay for Prime or just want to watch free, ad-supported content.
What Happens To My Favorite Freevee Shows?
If you’ve been enjoying Freevee’s lineup, don’t worry. While some of its programming will be canceled, many of its most popular shows aren’t going anywhere. They’ll just be migrating to Prime Video’s free section, so you can continue watching without needing a paid Prime subscription.
Some Freevee originals that gained a loyal following, like the Emmy-nominated “Jury Duty” and “Bosch: Legacy,” will still be available on Prime Video. Other shows like “American Rust: Broken Justice,” “Neighbours,” “Judy Justice,” “America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation,” “Tribunal Justice,” “Primo,” and “Hollywood Houselift with Jeff Lewis” have already been added to Prime Video’s free lineup.
New episodes of ongoing shows and upcoming series that were planned for Freevee, like “On Call” and “The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh,” will now make their debuts directly on Prime Video. Additionally, Freevee’s FAST channels, which include a variety of live TV options, have already been rebranded as Amazon Prime Video channels, available on Fire TV.
How To Watch TV for Free
Even though Freevee is shutting down, it doesn’t change much, content-wise. For those who relied on Freevee as their go-to for free shows, this change simply means switching over to Prime Video’s Free with Ads section. And for those who already enjoy Amazon’s Prime Video offerings, you’ll now have even more shows, movies, and live channels at your fingertips.
But, if you’re interested in exploring other options for completely free, ad-supported streaming, you should check out alternatives like Pluto TV and Tubi. Both of these platforms boast impressive libraries that rival paid platforms, and we’ve reviewed both services in detail.
The great thing about free TV streaming services is that there is no risk in trying them all out! That said, free streaming services are designed more as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, paid streaming services like Amazon Prime Video or Netflix. But, with so many paid streaming services out there today, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which ones are worth subscribing to.
We’re here to help! Check out the best TV streaming services for your viewing preferences and budget. Before you commit to any platform, be sure to check out our in-depth reviews to find out everything you need to know.
Get more TV streaming tips:
