Amazon has brought news to its streaming platform. The Prime Video live news hub is now the one-stop destination for all the best breaking stories, including local, national, and global news.
It’s the perfect place for news-hungry U.S. users who want all their content in a single space. Keep reading to learn more.
Prime Video Live News Hub
The Prime Video live news section is the newest on the platform. It launched on December 3rd and can be accessed from the top navigation of the Prime Video app.
In a statement about the release, Amazon commented, “The service aggregates hundreds of 24/7 news channels at no additional cost to viewers, including major linear streams.”
The move towards live news has been posed as a free upgrade for U.S. customers, and will be free for all U.S. viewers by the end of the year.
Channel Lineup
The initial lineup for the Prime Video live news channel will include major broadcast and cable brands like ABC News Live, CBS News 24/7, LiveNOW from Fox, CNN Headlines, and NBC News NOW. The news section will also include outlets like BBC News, Bloomberg TV+, FOX Weather, NBC Sports NOW, and Spanish-language channels like Telemundo Al Día.
Of course, you can still enjoy local and regional stations, weather, financial programming, and sports updates. By the year’s end, the Prime Video live news hub will exceed 200 channels.
Move Away from Freevee App
Amazon’s move follows the summer decision to shut down the standalone Freevee app. Instead, the platform is consolidating news and free-ad-supported streaming within the Prime Video ecosystem.
The new hub will be accessible to anyone with an Amazon account in the United States, with no membership required, and it works on devices that support the Prime Video app.
Possible Expansion
The rollout is just based in the U.S. as of now. Expansion to other regions could follow, but Amazon has not provided a public global timetable at this moment in time.
It’s important to note that the placement of the news section on the homepage is a targeted attempt to get live news to mainstream streaming audiences alongside popular shows and movies.
Final Thoughts
The announcement of the Prime Video live news channel puts the platform more directly against streaming platforms that have experimented with live and linear-style channels.
It also provides a way for viewers to switch between continuous live coverage and on-demand new programming. The platform is highlighting aggregation and convenience with a selection of both national and local outlets.
This new addition may strengthen Prime Video’s value proposition amid recent price increases at competitors such as Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, and HBO Max.
So, try watching some news content on Prime Video today alongside the platform’s December originals and licensed films.