Netflix's Upcoming Ad-Supported Tier Won't Allow Downloads for Offline Viewing

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Sounds like that'll be frustrating for users. Especially if they have to pay and it still has ads and limited features

There shouldn't be much frustration. No one is being forced to go with an ad-supported plan. If someone doesn't want ads, they can still go with an ad-free plan.

The ad-supported plan will be an option to get the same content (with ads) for less than an ad-free plan. Some will like that, others won’t but it's the subscriber's choice.

 

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You're comparing services that used to have, at most, a million subscribers across the U.S. Not hundreds of millions worldwide. Those prices back then were justified back when the service was so relatively small.

Continuing to raise prices today is nothing but greed, and is starting to exceed anything resembling value. People were happy to support reasonably priced video entertainment when it became a thing. And people are somewhat hooked now, but are still steadily dropping it as the prices become obscene.

Regardless of whether a company had a million subscribers or a couple hundred million subscribers, the price to the consumer is the price to the consumer and the content/features are the content/features. My point was that cost of entertainment today is much cheaper (at least after adjusting for inflation) compared to what it was decades ago when offerings may have been premium cable channels or, in the case of Netflix, DVD rental companies. Today's streaming services offer a lot more as far as content, on demand capability, etc. but are priced less to much less (again, at least after adjusting for inflation).

Assuming there aren't antitrust violations going on, I don't think a company's revenue or profit level should necessarily be a factor when it comes to whether or not they can or should raise prices. Ultimately, it's the consumers that have the real power here as they choose whether or not to subscribe or continue subscribing.

 

[Kissmo1980]

What the Netflix marketing people don't realize is that loyal consumers "go shopping" when they experience what they see as an egregious price increase. In this case, I'll be switching from just leaving my Netflix subscription always on, to suspending it for long periods until I can save up enough good material to binge.

Mate - you described it perfectly.👌🏻

 

[KurtMann]

I like movies, but the big thing in streaming is shows (which makes total sense, a 10-part will keep people longer than a film). But when it comes to movies, most subscriptions are interchangeable. It’s on Netflix for a while and then it’s on Prime and then it’s on HBOmax (RIP max, it was nice knowing you).

I like good interesting movies. In Netflix terms: I’m thinking of ending things rather than Red Notice.

But as I said, as a movie buff, the subscription war is more of a paintball game.

 

[Dragon_Slayer82]

Can't say that I'm surprised by this. The cheapest tier will always have the least amount of perks.

Fortunately, I get free Netflix with T-Mobile because I would not give a dime to them if I had to.