Online reports from Netflix users in Canada and the UK claim that the streaming service is making people who subscribe to its cheapest ad-free plan switch to another plan to remain on the service.
Netflix ad-based plan RSS
Netflix is reportedly in internal discussions about offering a free ad-based plan sometime in the future. However, it may only offer this plan in parts of Europe and Asia, not in the US.
Netflix has revealed that its cheapest ad-based subscription plan for its streaming service has seen its numbers go way up from 23 million in January 2024 to 40 million subscribers today.
Netflix announced it had added 9.33 million subscribers to its streaming service worldwide in the first quarter of 2024, as it brought in $9.37 billion in revenue for that time period.
Netflix has announced it will soon give people who subscribe to its ad-based plan a way to download its content for offline use. It will also offer some ad-free episodes for binge-watchers.
With no press release or fanfare, Netflix is no longer offering its Basic plan, with no ads, in the US and UK for its new or returning customers, although current subscribers can still keep it.
Netflix wants to run episodic ad campaigns to boost viewer engagement according to several ad bosses. Episodic ads could work well on Netflix as the platform could track the ads viewers have seen.
You can't sign up for a Netflix Basic plan without ads in Canada anymore, which cost $9.99 CAD. There's no word yet on if this removal will be made in the US or other markets in the future.
Netflix says a broad rollout of its account-sharing fees will begin sometime in Q2 2023 in the US and other markets. It will also boost the video resolution for its ad-based subscription plan.
