Netflixs cheap, Basic with Ads streaming plan is now a reality

Date:
Thu, 13 Oct 2022 20:16:55 +0000

Description:
Netflix's anticipated ad-supported tier has been officially announced, with
12 countries getting the plan in November.

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Following Netflix president Ted Sarandos June confirmation that an ad-supported tier would be coming to the service, the company today released details on its new Basic with Ads subscription plan.

Netflix Basic with Ads will cost $6.99 / 4.99 month when it launches November 3 in the US and UK. The tier will also be available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, and Spain, with both Canada and Spain getting a head-start via a November 1 launch.

According to a Netflix corporate blog post announcing the ad-supported tier, the new offering wont have any impact on the pricing of its current plans, which range from $9.99 to $19.99 a month in the US and 10.99 to 15.99 in the UK.

The post noted that ads will be either 15 or 30 seconds in length, and will pop up both before and during streamed programs. Overall, viewers can expect to see 4 to 5 minutes of ads per hour. Similar to the services current Basic plan, video quality will be limited to 720p HD rather than the 4K with HDR available on the Premium tier.

Not all current programs will be available on the ad-supported tier due to licensing restrictions, according to Netlix. As to the number of blocked shows, the company estimates that about 5% to 10% of overall programming
won't be available depending on the country.

Netflixs post also confirmed our fears that users of its Basic with Ads tier wont be able to download shows, a capability provided to its Basic, Standard, and Premium subscribers. Analysis: Netflix with ads was inevitable

We cant say we didnt see this coming. Over the past year or two Netflix has been scrambling to keep up with new streaming competition from Disney, HBO, and other entertainment giants. The companys subscriber base plummeted in the first half of 2022, causing it to lay off staff and to cancel productions
that were in the works, particularly in the animation category.

Netlixs new ad-supported plan arrives just one month prior to the launch of the Disney+ ad-supported tier , which, at $7.99, will represent a pricier option for those looking to contain household streaming costs amid ongoing inflation and economic strain.

For some viewers, the omission of shows from the ad-supported tier could be a deal breaker since many subscribe based on buzz about a specific show. Yes, maybe not everyone wants to watch The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes , but not being able to stream Stranger Things or Seinfeld after forking over a monthly fee? No thanks!

Not being able to download shows will also be a problem since many take advantage of this feature to watch shows during a commute or other travel in environments where Wi-Fi or cellular services can be spotty. Forking out more cash for one of Netflixs higher-priced ad-free tiers solves that issue, of course, but then youre back to paying a premium.

With the addition of the new plan, Netflix is now just like every other streaming service thats willing to plaster its shows with ads. The move may bring in new subscribers to the company, but it sure wont help to differentiate it.

Already have a Netflix subscription? Here are our picks for the best Netflix shows you can watch today



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/netflixs-cheap-basic-with-ads-plan-is-now-a-rea lity/


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