As it leads up to the launch of the show The Grand Tour, its new original series, Amazon is also launching an even grander promotion. New Amazon Prime members can grab the service for 20 percent off the regular first-year membership subscription fee. The limited promotion of $79 for the initial year is temporarily available on one single day — Nov. 18 – the same day the new show’s first episode premieres exclusively through Amazon. New episodes will drop each week for 12 weeks.
The Grand Tour, shot in 4K Ultra High Definition, has been a highly anticipated new series taking viewers across the globe — from Johannesburg to England to Nashville — with the help of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. It will be available through the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Amazon Fire TV, mobile devices and online at Amazon.com/thegrandtour.
“We are thrilled to bring back together the world’s beloved hosting team of Clarkson, Hammond and May for extraordinary adventures that can only be seen on Amazon Prime Video,” said Conrad Riggs, head of Unscripted Amazon Originals.
Every Thursday before an episode, viewers receive a clue related to the upcoming episode and unlock exclusive video content. Between the show, clues and promotion, Amazon’s Alexa is also on board. The tech giant added a skill related to the new show just for Alexa, as well as the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot devices. Weekly drawings with prizes related to the show, such as a $25 Amazon gift certificate, will also be given away. According to the release, asking Alexa if she was invited on the Grand Tour is a big hint toward a prize.
Amazon Prime exclusive content also includes Mr. Robot, Downton Abbey, The Americans, Orphan Black, Transparent, The Man in the High Castle, Love & Friendship, and Tumble Leaf.
The services coincides with an attempt to musically rival Spotify and Apple Music. Amazon also recently announced its music service — Amazon Music Unlimited — with its family plan deal, which allows six people to share one account for $14.99 per month.
The family plan rate is the same whether users are Amazon Prime members or not. That said, it is up from the individual rate of $7.99 per month for Amazon Prime members and $2 more for non-Prime members, but the average family plan user has a more competitive pricing.
That said, experts say the flat family plan rate is a missed opportunity to get more Amazon Prime members on board. The reason may be that Amazon already has certain demographics like students hooked on the Prime product through other marketing methods.
However, Prime members do get one big benefit: They can opt against the monthly billing and choose to pay on annual basis. The lump-sum cost comes out to $149, which takes off about $2.50 per month, or $30.84 for the year. Sure, the monthly option is easier on the monthly bills, but in the long run, the lower annual rate could be a realized benefit for consumers.
For those who have Alexa on board, Amazon sees this as a great pairing. Upon request, she is able to sync up with Amazon Music Unlimited and provide a variety of capabilities, from playing children’s music to the top pop song, creating a playlist on demand or even playing a song that a user knows only a few lyrics to.
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