Amazon announced the closure of Freevee, its ad-supported video streamer.

Freevee initially launched in January 2019 under the name “IMDb Freedive”, then was later renamed “IMDb TV” in June 2019.

Freevee will be phased out over the coming weeks, Bloomberg report. Content that existed on the service will now be moved to Amazon’s Prime Video.

In a statement provided to Varietyan Amazon representative said: “We have made Prime Video a premier entertainment destination where customers can personalize their viewing experience by streaming exclusive entertainment for Prime members produced by Amazon MGM Studios, movies and licensed series, content from other services as support. add-on subscription, live sports, hit movies and series to rent or buy, FAST channels (free ad-supported streaming TV) and the full Amazon Freevee content offering.

“To provide a simpler viewing experience for customers, we have decided to phase out the Freevee brand. There will be no changes to the content available to Prime members, and a vast offering of free streaming content will still be available to non-Prime members, including a selection of originals from Amazon MGM Studios, a variety of licensed films and series, and a wide range of content. FAST channel library – all available on Prime Video.

Original series on Freevee included Jury duty, Bosch: the legacy, Neighbors And Alex Cavalier.

Last February, Amazon has denied the closure of its free, ad-supported streaming service, Freevee, despite reports claiming otherwise.

Advertising week first reported that Amazon plans to remove the free service in the coming weeks, as part of a “broader effort to focus its advertising and product efforts on Prime Video.”

The report was released after Amazon Prime Video automatically downgraded its subscribers to an ad-supported tier in late January, requiring customers to spend an additional $2.99 ​​per month to remain ad-free.

A “source familiar with the matter” told Adweek that the decision to inject ads into Amazon Prime Video marked the end of Freevee. Another source added: “Freevee is not long for this world. »

However, in a statement provided to Deadline At the time, Amazon denied that changes to Freevee were imminent.

“There are no changes to Freevee,” a spokesperson for the streamer said earlier this year. “Amazon Freevee remains an important streaming offering offering Prime and non-Prime customers thousands of movies, shows and hit originals, all for free.”