Netflix will soon become the first streamer to let ad-supported tier users download movies and TV shows.
It has been a full year since Netflix debuted its ad-supported tier as the most affordable subscription option in a few regions. The concept started off with very few functions, but over time, the team added more features, such as 1080p streaming, to make it more affordable. It has now disclosed a few significant adjustments that will increase the profitability of its ad-supported plan for both current and prospective new users.
For a company that claimed it would never include an ad-supported tier, Netflix has certainly embraced the format since its November 2022 launch. It introduced its first Title Sponsorship during the most recent season of Love Is Blind. Netflix will continue with partnerships for another reality series, Squid Game: The Challenge, and The Crown’s final season.
Early 2024 will also see advertisers given the option to include a QR code in any of their US-based content.
As for the ability for people with the ad-supported subscription plan to download content for offline viewing, Netflix says “All members of the ad-supported plan will be able to download their favourite series and movies, making Netflix the only ad-supported streamer to offer downloads”. According to the company, this feature will become available “by the end of this week.”
While Netflix hasn’t changed the price of the ad-supported plan since it was launched, the company recently increased the prices of other subscription plans, making this the second price hike in the last 20 months. Along with it, Netflix has recently announced the company’s first live sports event ever, the Netflix Cup, and it also plans to open physical stores in the US soon.
