Why did I have to start paying for Vera?

[LAS14]

In December we watched some episodes of Vera, season 8, on Amazon (maybe via Acorn, I can never keep that straight), at no extra cost. Last night we settled down to finish the season and lo!! It would cost is $2.99/episode or 10.99 for the season. I did a search on our cable and on Netflix to make sure I was remembering correctly... No free Vera. What happened? Did something change at the turn of the year? As it happened, it cost me (2.99 + 2.99 + 1.99 (regular, not high definition) ) to discover that we'd already watched all four episodes. Is there no way to get a free preview?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. I can't comment on that specific show,

but I do know that every so often a show that was free on Amazon suddenly costs some money.

I recently discovered Counterpart and got the first season DVDs from Netflix. The Starz network is the one making that series, and the entire second season is available to watch if I were to get Starz. Which I'm not going to do. I'll wait for the DVDs to become available on Netflix.

I've run across that before, where the most recent season of a show is only available for a fee. I'm such a cheapskate that so far I haven't paid, but for Counterpart I'll consider it.

[LAS14]

2. A little more detail here?

You seem to be describing two situations. True?

1 - A show that had been free starts costing money.

2 - The most recent season of a show costs money.

Anyway, I'm reassured to know that I probably haven't done something wrong. Thanks for the response.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. Yes, I am describing both situations.

Just because show is free, or even available online, does not mean it will remain free forever, or even remain available on line forever. The shows come and go.

[cyclonefence]

4. No, you didn't do anything wrong

Amazon charges for a good many tv series and movies, and what you describe with Vera happened to me with Endeavor and that detective show starring Helen Mirren. If you wait a few months, the later episodes will probably come to you for free. I find this really annoying because sometimes you choose something to watch on Amazon and don't find out you have to pay for it until you get to the "play now" screen. I guess charging for newer stuff is reasonable considering that the Prime subscription gets you lots of other benefits, but I still find it annoying.

Have you watched Alpha House?

[LAS14]

5. Loved Alpha House! Did it go beyond season 2? nt

[cyclonefence]

7. If it did, I haven't been able to find it

[LAS14]

6. Seems like there ought to be a "truth in advertising" case to be made....

... for 1) slapping a fee on a series that started out with no extra charge

2) not telling you there's a charge till you've clicked "watch now."

Do you know what organizations might be watch-dogging this kind of behavior?

[LAS14]

8. My daughter tells me that Vera (or at least the recent season) now...

... belongs to BritBox. Sounds like that's what might have happened to Endeavor and the Helen Mirren series.

[cyclonefence]

9. That's probably it

but I recall downloading some kind of BBC supplement to my Netflix--maybe I'll find them yet! Thanks for the tip.

[csziggy]

10. I had trouble figuring out how to watch all of the Vera episodes

Some are on Acorn, some on Britbox so you have to bounce back and forth between streaming services. And they are not in any logical breakdown as to which is on which.

Checking on Amazon Prime, Acorn has seasons 1, 2, 5, 6 & 7. Bribox has 3, 4 & 8. Both Acorn & Britbox cost extra above the Amazon Prime subscription. I had both before I subscribed to Amazon, but it does make it easier to figure out which channels carry which series.