The Takeaway
- Many seniors keep cable mainly for local channels and 24-hour news.
- Cable TV prices continue to rise, even for “basic” plans.
- Amazon Prime Video now includes free live news and linear-style channels.
- No new app or upgrade is required for existing Prime members.
For many seniors, cable TV isn’t about entertainment — it’s about the news.
The TV comes on in the morning. A local station plays. Cable news runs most of the day. You’re not binge-watching shows. You’re paying $120 or more each month just to keep the news on.
Cable companies know this. And they charge for it.
That’s where Amazon Prime Video just made a surprisingly senior-friendly move. Christmas gift? Call it what you want, but it's a big plus for a lot of cost-sensitive seniors.
A quiet upgrade with big implications
Amazon recently shut down its standalone Freevee app and folded all of that free, ad-supported content directly into Prime Video. At the time, it didn’t feel like a big deal — just one less app to manage.
But Amazon didn’t stop there.
Prime Video has now expanded its lineup of live, linear-style channels — the kind you can simply turn on and let run — including multiple national news outlets and always-on programming streams. And for U.S. Prime members, it costs nothing extra.
No new subscription.
No upgrade button.
No tech gymnastics.
If you already pay for Amazon Prime — often for shipping alone — this content is already sitting there.
What you get
In a news release, the company said the dedicated news destination is currently rolling out and will become available to all U.S. customers for free by end of year. It can easily be found in the top navigation available throughout the Prime Video app, which is available on thousands of devices and available for all Amazon customers in the U.S. at no cost.
Prime Video offers an extensive range of 24/7 live and on-demand news content, including live local and regional news stations, business, finance, and global news, as well as sports, entertainment, Spanish-language, and weather coverage such as BBC News, FOX Weather, Bloomberg TV+, NBC Sports NOW, Telemundo Al Día among many other news channels, and expanding to over 200+ by end of year.
Why this matters to seniors
For many older viewers, the biggest barrier to cutting cable isn’t entertainment. It’s news access.
Local and national news provide routine, context, and connection. Scrolling endlessly through streaming menus doesn’t replicate the comfort of turning on a familiar channel and letting it play. Amazon appears to understand that — and is leaning into a more traditional TV experience inside a modern streaming platform.
Prime Video’s live channels won’t replace every local station just yet, and they won’t satisfy die-hard cable loyalists overnight. But for seniors who mainly want headlines, breaking news, and steady background programming, it may be “good enough” — and that’s often all it takes to start rethinking a $150 cable bill.
The bigger picture
While Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and others continue raising prices, Amazon is going the opposite direction: bundling more value into a service many seniors already have.
It’s a subtle shift, but an important one.
Instead of forcing viewers to choose between streaming and cable, Amazon is blurring the line — offering something that looks a lot like TV, without the long-term contracts or constant price hikes.
For seniors living on fixed incomes, that matters.
Is it time to rethink cable?
This isn’t a call to cancel cable tomorrow. But it is a moment worth paying attention to, now more than ever.
If you’re paying for cable primarily for news — and you already have Amazon Prime — it may be time to explore what’s already included before writing another check to your cable company.
Sometimes the smartest savings aren’t about chasing the newest thing.
They’re about realizing you’re already paying for more than you think.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or consumer-service advice. Channel availability, pricing, and features may change. Always review your cable and streaming service options carefully before making changes.
