Netflix is adding a new, cheaper way to watch on its platform with Basic with Ads, a tier with new options beyond ads. The company has detailed what to expect ahead of its November release in select countries.
On November 3 at 9 a.m. PT, Netflix will have ads available for $6.99 a month. The breaks will come in with an average of four to five minutes per hour, with each ad being between 15 to 30 seconds. The other major change this comes with is the video quality. The new ad tier and people with the standard subscription will have a resolution of 720p.
The new Netflix ads plan will be available in 12 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, the U.K., and the U.S. It will be on top of the three other plans: Basic, Standard, and Premium.
Netflix details its Basic with Ads tier
The kinds of ads coming to Netflix are unknown. It could be what you would expect with various products that are not entertainment related, or it could be entertainment or streaming related. The company will give control to advertisers to ensure it is “relevant for consumers.” Depending on the genre you are watching might determine your breaks, like if you are watching Stranger Things versus Ozark.
While this will be the lowest end, Netflix offers no ads with Basic, Standard, and Premium. The lowest two of the four plans are closer together now with the 720p addition. Meanwhile, Premium offers higher resolution and other advances that increase immersion with 4K ultra HD, HDR, and Dolby Atmos support for $19.99 a month (U.S.). It also lets users download or watch up to four supported devices at a time, with Basic being two and the upcoming plan being one.
The plan for Netflix to have ads combats a major criticism the streamer has faced in recent years. As its prices have increased over the years, it has led some people away. This goes along with its increased competition from HBO Max, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and others, with various price differences and high-quality original content.
