Prime mover: Amazon
① Online shoppers take note.
② Today the price of an annual subscription to Amazon Prime in America goes up from $99 to $119.
③ Since it was launched in 2005, the service, which offers free shipping, has been quite the success.
④ In 2017 it delivered 5bn packages to 100m members; subscription services alone (which include Prime fees) earned the company $9.7bn.
⑤ Amazon says the price rise is warranted because membership now offers so much more.
⑥ One big perk is access to the firm's video and music content.
⑦ Amazon is thought to have spent $4.5bn on non-sports programming last year, and it recently renewed a deal to stream American football games.
⑧ Executives have warned that Prime will need even more investment to keep subscribers hooked.
⑨ With members estimated to spend at least three times as much as non-members, it is definitely worth priming the pump.
▍生词好句
prime /prʌɪm/: adj. 最好的；首要的（primary）
prime mover: 原动力；动力机
take note: 注意；给予重视；记笔记
subscription /səbˈskrɪpʃ(ə)n/: n. 订阅；订购
launch /lɔːn(t)ʃ/: vt. 发布；推出
shipping /ˈʃɪpɪŋ/: n. 邮递
quite /kwʌɪt/: adv. 相当地；非常地
deliver /dɪˈlɪvə/: vt. 递送；派送；投递
alone /əˈləʊn/: adv. 仅仅；仅就；单单
warranted /ˈwɒr(ə)ntɪd/: adj.（在价值上）有保证的/有担保的（justifiable）
perk /pəːk/: n. 好处（benefit）
access /ˈaksɛs/: n. 通往/进入……的路径/权限/机会 vt. 进入；得到；获取
be thought to: 据说/被认为……（be said/considered to）
renew a deal: 续约
stream /striːm/: vt. 播放；播出
subscriber /səbˈskrʌɪbə/: n. 订阅者
hooked /ˈhʊkt/: adj. 上钩的；被吸引的
estimate /ˈɛstɪmeɪt/: vt. 估计；预估；评估
prime the pump /pʌmp/: 采取措施（通常是经济措施）促使某事发展
▍补充
1. prime
prime years (of one's life) 黄金岁月
prime-time show 黄金时段的节目
prime reason 首要原因
prime concern 首要顾虑
2. subscribe
subscribe to the news 订阅新闻
email subscription 邮件订阅
unsubscribe: vt. 取消订阅
· To unsubscribe, you can click the link below.
3. launch
launch a plan/new product/new service
4. quite
His death is quite a shock to us.
It's quite a challenge to pass the examination.
5. delivery
delivery service 送货服务
free delivery 免费送货
fast/express delivery 快递
6. warranted
justifiable: adj. 正当的；合情合理的；说得过去的
warrant: n. 证明；担保有效/有权的文件
search warrant 搜查证
7. access
One big perk of living in Beijing is easier access to the country's best cultural and educational resources.
Children in different areas should be given equal access to primary education.
access the information 获取信息
accessible: adj. 可以接近的；可以获得的
8. stream
streaming media 流媒体
data stream 数据流
video streaming site 视频播放网站
live streaming / stream something live 直播
9. hook
hook: n. 钩子 vt. 钩住；引上钩；吸引到；牢牢抓住
fish hook 鱼钩
news hook 新闻亮点
hook up with 勾搭上；钓到
10. be estimated to
· 估计是怎样 The fossil unearthed is estimated to be 300 years old.
· 预估会怎样（be expected to） Housing price is estimated to rebound towards the end of this year.
11. pump priming（最早是政治术语）政府进行投资促进经济发展
government investment expenditures designed to induce a self-sustaining expansion of economic activity (Merriam-Webster)