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Netflix mulls introducing free ad-supported tier. The circle is complete (adguard.com)

submitted 4 months ago by ForgottenFlux@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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Netflix, once a pioneer of ad-free viewing that offered a break from traditional TV norms, is now contemplating launching free ad-supported versions of its service in markets like Europe and Asia, Bloomberg reported.

The plans to offer a free ad-supported tier, albeit in select markets, suggests that pivot towards monetizing user data, in other words — making users and not the extensive library of award-winning shows a product, might be well in the pipeline.

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[–] conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works 19 points 4 months ago (10 children)

Netflix can't do what got them to the top.

Fuck everything about the changes they've made for the last several years, but they were always going to hit a wall when content owners put their content on their own platforms.

[–] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 11 points 4 months ago (9 children)

Netflix can't do what got them to the top.

They can't grow that way but they could easily hold on and remain profitable, popular and successful.

They were well on their way to enjoying "Kleenex" or "Oreo" stable market success, but their leadership and shareholders apparently aren't satisfied with winning.

[–] conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works 16 points 4 months ago (8 children)

The entire source of their growth was "you can get almost anything you want to watch for one low monthly cost". They no longer have rights to any of that content, and for most of it didn't even get an opportunity to make a bid.

It's the equivalent of Oreo shipping 3 Oreos in a big box for 3x the price. But also they had to change their recipe because they didn't own the old one.

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Yeah. Netflix got really lucky with streaming for as long as they did and they knew it. Cable and broadcast subsidized their content and they were able to lease it for pennies on the dollar.

Of course, people don't want to admit that the subsidy for their content is gone and they are pissed about rising costs.

[–] conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I don't care about the why. It was worth it.

Now it's not worth it.

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Then cancel and move on.

The way that people talk about it here, a streaming service raising rates is the equivalent of a significant other dumping them.

[–] conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I did. A long time ago.

People are allowed to recognize a dogshit excuse for a product is a bad product.

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I never said people weren't allowed, but there is this weird obsession about it on Lemmy.

[–] conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 months ago

People discuss tech companies, and when a company keeps jacking up its price while making the experience worse for an offering that would be a ripoff at half its original price, people are going to be annoyed.

Especially with the trend of not being able to just buy shows any more.

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