Nov 3, 2022
Netflix starts cheaper streaming service with adverts
People settling in to their sofas for a bit of Netflix now have a new option - to pay less for their favourite shows but watch with adverts. Netflix has launched its "Basic with Ads' streaming plan in 12 countries - which it intends to expand over time. It's a massive change for the tech giant, which pioneered the world of ad-free, subscription-based streaming. But as rising costs and offerings from new rivals prompt audiences to quit, the company had to act. In announcing the new service, Netflix said it was confident it now had a"price and plan for every fan". The 33-year-old said she was lucky to be able to afford the cost of her subscription and thought the move Netflix was"a desperate bid to attract more people" that would end up hurting the brand. "If they are going to be offering aids, it feels like less of a premium service that people will be happy to continue paying for," she said, adding that clogging shows and movies up with commercials would make Netflix "just another YouTube". With concerns about the cost of living rising, Netflix with ads has a chance of helping it hold on to its audience, said Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director at Kantar World Panel, which has found that for many of the households in the UK, quitting Netflix means dropping out of streaming altogether.
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