Amazon Freevee is set to close in the coming weeks – meaning big changes are afoot for Neighbours.
The streamer revived the cult Australian soap in September 2023 after it was axed the year before. British broadcaster Channel 5 had cut funding, forcing the ‘final’ episode to air in July 2022.
A few months later, Amazon announced that they would be stepping in to produce and broadcast new episodes – which led to some confusion from international viewers.
Freevee is ad-supported, meaning that all of their content is free, though includes advertisement breaks throughout. All viewers need is an account – which doesn’t cost – to watch the residents of Ramsay Street.
However, with the service set to shut down, Neighbours will transfer permanently to a new home on Amazon Prime Video.
In a statement provided to Variety, an Amazon spokesperson said: ‘We have built Prime Video into a first-stop entertainment destination where customers can personalise their viewing experience by streaming exclusive Prime member entertainment produced by Amazon MGM Studios, licensed movies and series, content from other services as an add-on subscription, live sports, blockbuster movies and series to rent or buy, FAST (free, ad-supported streaming TV) channels and the complete Amazon Freevee content offering.’
‘To deliver a simpler viewing experience for customers, we have decided to phase out Freevee branding’ they continued.
‘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.’
Amazon previously denied rumours that Freevee would be shutting down when contacted by Metro in February.
The episodes have already been airing there since September 2023, though some may have believed there was a charge due to its integration alongside subscription-required content.
Moving forward, there will be no fee to watch all new episodes of the beloved soap, but you will have to watch on Prime Video instead as the Freevee platform is wound down.
The series has regularly topped the most-watched listings on both services since its launch, and is now more than half way through the originally ordered 400 episodes.
Unfortunately, this still casts doubt over whether Neighbours will be recommissioned beyond this.
Actress Lucinda Cowden, who will leave next week, addressed the show’s future in an exclusive chat with Metro: ‘At the moment at Neighbours, they still don’t know whether they’re being renewed, so I don’t think I’m really at the top of their needs and thoughts because they’ve all got a lot on their plate.’
When asked whether she would return in a regular capacity, she continued: ‘I’d return full-time in a heartbeat.’
‘Who knows the way it will go? Who knows if it will continue to be made after April? At this moment we don’t know any of those things.
‘It’s a different kind of world, you don’t get those long contracts now so that’s going to be the same for the actors, crews and shows. A short-term scenario.’
New episodes will continue to air until next summer at the earliest.
When approached for comment, Amazon told us: ‘New episodes of Neighbours, Judy Justice, and Bosch: Legacy, as well as library Freevee Originals including Jury Duty, The Mallorca Files, Alex Rider, and more, will remain available for Prime members and non-Prime members to stream on Prime Video.’
‘Additionally, a sampling of library Originals including Hanna and Homecoming are also available for non-Prime members to stream for free.’
