If you’re trying to innovate your advertising campaigns for 2026, Amazon Prime Video ads are becoming one of the biggest distribution opportunities in the streaming world.
At Voice123, the most trusted voice over network, we’ve seen brands shift their strategies toward Amazon Prime Video to take advantage of Amazon’s growing streaming ad inventory.
In this post, we’ll explore why does Prime Video have ads now, when did Prime Video get ads, and how to make Amazon Prime Video ads that get results.
What are Amazon Prime Video ads?
Amazon Prime Video ads are short advertising placements shown before or during movies, TV episodes, and Live TV on the Amazon Prime Video platform. These spots function similarly to connected-TV ads (CTV) and are designed to deliver cinematic-quality brand storytelling within a premium streaming environment.
Prime Video ads and Amazon Prime commercials enable brand-driven storytelling within one of the world’s largest streaming ecosystems. These advertisements are more premium than standard Amazon ads because they’re tied to Amazon’s powerful data engine.
When did Prime Video get ads?
Prime Video introduced ads in 2024 as part of a broader shift into streaming monetization. This transition has sparked viewer questions like “Does Prime Video have ads?” and “Why does Prime Video have ads now?” The rollout happened in early 2024, with most subscribers automatically moved to an ad-supported tier unless they upgrade to Prime Video no ads.
How Amazon Prime Video ads work
Prime Video is part of Amazon’s massive advertising ecosystem. While Amazon advertising spans retail media, sponsored products, and display, Amazon Prime Video ads function more like classic CTV placements — targeted, cinematic, and highly brand-friendly.
Types of Amazon Prime Video ads
Prime Video currently supports several video ad formats, including pre-roll and mid-roll placements — the core formats for most brands. Static branded slates help with lighter creative budgets, while sponsored content and emerging interactive ads give marketers more flexibility.
Amazon targeted advertising
Amazon’s biggest advantage is data. By combining shopping history, viewing preferences, and demographic signals, the platform delivers ads with exceptional accuracy. Unlike traditional streaming, where ads can feel broad or mismatched, Prime Video’s data ecosystem keeps your creative aligned with the buyer’s intent.
Cinematic advertisements
With your ads appearing next to Amazon Originals, the quality bar is higher. Amazon Prime ads feature crisp imagery, cinematic lighting, and exceptionally clean audio. Professional voice overs elevate the soundscape, add emotional clarity, improve pacing, and create consistency.
How to make high-performing Amazon Prime Video ads
Build the audiovisual style first
Viewers on Prime Video are sitting back, not scrolling — which means your Amazon Prime Video ads should feel like a short film rather than a quick social clip. Start with a tight narrative arc: a setup, a shift, and a payoff. Create emotional impact through pacing, performance, and visual elements.
Optimise for living room audio
Since Prime Video has over 315 million monthly viewers, warm, inviting voice overs are crucial to help your message feel grounded. Invest in professional sound mixing because polished audio makes your Amazon Prime ads feel like part of the cinematic experience rather than a jarring interruption.
Cast voice actors who match the platform
Prime Video ads require a voice that feels trustworthy, authentic, and cinematic. Not overly hyped but authentic and emotional. The right voice builds continuity between your visual tone and your message. On Voice123, you can hire professional voice actors who specialize in streaming and commercials
Amazon Prime Video ads best practices
1. Keep ads between 15–30 seconds
Prime Video viewers expect forward motion, but not speed. Thirty seconds is enough to tell a story without overstaying your welcome. Shorter cuts work well when the message is very direct or retail-driven.
2. Use strong hooks
Because most placements appear mid-content, your first one to two seconds must create instant re-engagement. A compelling sound cue, a visually striking opening frame, or a bold line of voice over helps pull the viewer out of the story they were watching and into your message without friction.
3. Maintain Prime-level production quality
Your ad will be surrounded by blockbuster visuals. Whether the viewer is watching Fallout or a true crime documentary, your spot needs to feel like it belongs in the same universe. Utilize cinematic lighting, intentional color grading, and professional audio to ensure your ad appears and sounds polished and professional.
4. Use a memorable CTA
Because this is Amazon, calls to action matter even more. The viewer can make a purchase, save a product, or learn more with a single click so design your CTA to take advantage of Amazon’s conversion-friendly ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
Amazon Prime Video ads are becoming a dominant force in the streaming advertising landscape. For video producers and marketers, this shift brings larger audiences, more precise targeting, and a premium canvas for storytelling.
Whether you’re expanding into Amazon Prime commercials or exploring Amazon Prime advertising, the foundation is the same: powerful storytelling supported by exceptional audio which you can find on Voice123.
Hire professional voice actors to elevate your next streaming campaign. Post your project today!
FAQs
You can upgrade to the Prime Video no ads tier, which removes Amazon Prime Video ads from shows and movies.
Amazon added ads to expand its Amazon Prime advertising capabilities and support larger investments in Amazon Originals, along with movies and TV shows from related networks.
Yes. Amazon Prime ads now appear on most content unless users switch to the ad-free tier.
Costs vary by targeting and placement, but Amazon Advertising offers flexible budget options for both large national campaigns and smaller brand initiatives.
