Netflix has announced a plan to start inserting ads into its streaming content starting next year. The ads will be placed between episodes and will only be viewable while users are logged in. Netflix says the ads will only be for “non-essential” content and that they won’t impact the overall quality of the streaming experience. Netflix’s decision to start inserting ads into its streaming content is a controversial one. Some users feel that the ads are intrusive and take away from the overall experience of watching television shows and movies on Netflix. Others argue that Netflix should start charging more for its service in order to offset the cost of these ads. Regardless of whether or not you think Netflix’s plan with ads is a good idea, it’s clear that the company is looking for ways to make money. This move could potentially help Netflix keep up with competitors like Amazon Prime Video, which offers ad-free streaming for $119 per year. ..
Netflix has revealed its new “Basic with Ads” plan, which will be a new option alongside the existing Basic ($9.99/month), Standard ($15.49/mo), and Premium ($19.99/mo) plans. It will be priced at $6.99/mo, a $3 difference from the Basic plan. You’ll be able to sign up starting November 3 at 9 AM Pacific Time (12 PM ET), if you live in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, or the United Kingdom.
There are three differences with the new plan compared to the typical Netflix experience (the Basic plan). You will see 15 or 30-second ads before and during shows and films, “a limited number of movies and TV shows won’t be available due to licensing restrictions,” and downloading for offline play is not available. Advertisements will appear an “average of 4 to 5 minutes of ads per hour,” which is still much better than cable TV, but not great.
It’s not clear yet how popular the Basic with Ads plan will be with viewers, especially considering it’s only $3 less than the existing Basic plan. The plan could be an upselling strategy more than anything else — the lower $6.99 price generates more signups, and when people get sick of the ads, they might be more likely to upgrade to a more expensive plan instead of cancelling.
You’ll be able to sign up for the new plan at Netflix.com once it arrives on November 3. That same day, the Basic plan is being upgraded to 1080p, the same resolution as Basic with Ads.
Source: Netflix
