Amazon, the online retail giant, has announced that the price of its Prime subscription service in the US is to rise following the addition of a number of new benefits, including live coverage of American football’s NFL.
The price increase, which was revealed with Amazon’s fourth-quarter results yesterday, will see monthly subscribers pay $14.99 rather than $12.99 and annual subscribers $139 rather than $119.
It will be effective as of February 18 for new Prime members and March 25 for existing members.
One of the reasons cited for the increase was Amazon’s acquisition of exclusive rights for the NFL’s Thursday Night Football.
Signed in March last year, the 11-year deal is described as “historic” by Amazon.
From the start of the 2022 campaign, which runs from September through to January, Amazon will broadcast 15 games a season – an increase from the 11 it currently offers.
Amazon has been pursuing a move into sport with Prime through various high-profile acquisitions, including domestic rights to French soccer’s Ligue 1 and 2, domestic rights to English soccer’s Premier League, and rights to rugby’s Autumn Nations Series in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
