The cheapest subscription will no longer be available for customers in selected countries. They will have to choose between a subscription with ads or a more expensive package with higher image quality.
The Basic Netflix package was introduced back in 2013. The company’s goal was to offer customers a cheaper subscription with full access to movies and series, but with lower image quality and restrictions on the number of devices used. Basic thus complemented the already existing, but significantly more expensive, Standard and Premium packages. However, Netflix’s monopoly began to be threatened by other streaming services such as Disney+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video or HBO Max, which resulted in the service adding the Basic package with advertisements to its portfolio in addition to the Baisc package. The cheapest variant of the service, which interrupts the viewing of movies with several advertising blocks, brought Netflix up to 40 million new subscribers. The decreasing trend in the number of subscribers has thus been reversed by the service.
Now Netflix is coming with another change that will not please customers with an activated Basic package. In several countries, the service began to inform customers about the end of its support. At the same time, she invited them to activate either the more expensive Standard and Premium packages or the cheapest Basic package with advertisements. However, those who are already used to some standard in watching videos will not want to switch to ad-sponsored content and will probably choose the Standard package, which is $3.50 more expensive, or the Premium package, which is twice as expensive.
Netflix started adjusting its offer last year. The Basic package did not allow activation by new or returning customers in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. However, those who were already using it could continue to do so. The service has not yet officially announced the new changes.
Source: vat.pravda.sk
