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Netflix wouldn't be offering this if there wasn't demand for it.
Netflix gets paid a lot for showing those ads over the token $6.99 monthly. If this new ad supported tier brings in the predicted annual $1.85 Billion USD they forecasted, that believe it or not equivalent to another 92.5 million 4K subscribers per USD rates. Its also why Disney is racing to do the same.
 
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You also get the joy of not being able to view all of the content available to other users! What fun!
 
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Netflix may be one of the only video streaming services that relegates ad-supported subscribers to a sub 1080p tier, and for good reason. TV / movie companies typically want their customers using AT LEAST 1080p so they can ensure that the content looks good/sharp. If it looks blurry, it damages the customer experience and is potentially bad for their branding.
 
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I mean I guess it's better than 480 but 720p is still ridiculous in this day and age. You have to literally down-convert the files for this output as everyone shoots at at least 1080p at this point. Sometimes we shoot in 4K but it's easier/cheaper to up convert the 1080p to 4k.

Fox tv still broadcasts their NFL games in 720p 😑
 
Offering a 720p plan with ads in 2022 confirms that Netflix executives are very concerned about the future of the service. If their sub count continues to slide, the next logical move would probably be to begin looking for a buyer who sees “potential” in the acquisition.
 
Ugh. Well Netflix did this to themselves... for a long time they were the only game in town and had some decent water cooler shows. As new services started like Hulu, Disney, HBO Max and all the others most started adding additional services but kept Netflix because that was the bread and butter of streaming. Pretty soon I think people realized they weren't watching much Netflix anymore and the quality of shows and how willing Netflix was to stick with them was going down and people started canceling. I don't know that this ad plan with just 720p helps with that, I think the future looks a lot more like people picking a choosing a service or two to subscribe to for just a few months and catchup on what little material they wanted to see was missed while they were doing the same with other services.
 
Free TV. Paid TV. Ad TV. Ad/Paid TV.

This TV thing. Is it really a thing anymore? Wasn't that from the days where people used to waste their time and brain cells on some mind numbing video content instead of living interesting productive lives?

Just wondering...
 
Fox tv still broadcasts their NFL games in 720p 😑

So does ABC & CW. lol. But 720p cameras are obsolete so we just down-convert when we have to deliver to linear networks (usually 2 versions - the 720p broadcast version and the archive/Hulu compliant version if needed). Live streams/broadcasts are shot in 1080p and converted in the transmission as needed for that carrier's specs.
 
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Basic plan was 480p before today. So it's just ads for 3 dollars less. Compared to 4k it's 11 dollars cheaper and compared 1080p it's 6 dollars cheaper.
Netflix was charging people money for 480p in 2022? Now they're gonna charge money for 720p as an "upgrade" wtf even reality is Netflix in? Save a few bucks and get 2004 quality o_O
 
The streaming market is one of those markets that competition doesn't benefit the user.
Only if you're overly focused on subscription costs kept to a minimal. All these services are focused on ramping up content library's you like to retain your subscriptions. Not like you need to have very many of them.

Both Netflix and Disney keep adding more content. Disney still needs to contend with Hulu albatross (change owner or dissolve with more adult like content going to Disney and Comcast)
 
Youtube putting 4k behind a paywall soon, Netflix running a cheaper 720p plan, South Korea running things at 720p unless Google/Facebook/etc pay more...why is resolution becoming a bargaining chip? Resolution is just like a plate for food it's just what it comes on, don't hinder the advancement of basic tech just to squeeze out another dollar that's just rude. Grosses me out how every little thing in life has to be charged for now, and now it's at the expense of how the director wanted their art to be presented to people:/
 
720p and ads? This should be free lol. Good luck with this move Netflix. I think you’ll attract old people with CRT TVs and that’s about it.
 
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