Netflix with ads is here. After adamantly opposing adding commercials to its service for years, the streaming giant had a change of heart in April. Faced with stiff competition and large-scale subscriber loss, it announced that it was working on an advertisement-supported service with lower price points to attract more users.
On Thursday, Netflix chief operating officer Greg Peters unveiled the first stage of the ad-supported service, set to be available from next month in 12 countries.
"The timing is great because we really are at this pivotal moment in the entertainment industry and evolution of that industry," Peters said.
Here's everything you need to know about Netflix Basic with Ads.
What are the price plans for Netflix Basic with Ads?
The new ad-supported Netflix service will be priced at $6.99 in the US, $3 lower than its lowest-priced tier without commercials. In the UK, it will cost £4.99 a month and in Canada, it will be $5.99.
When will Netflix Basic with Ads launch?
The new Netflix packages will initially be available in 12 countries: US, UK, Canada, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico and Spain.
The service will be rolled out in stages. In Canada, it will be available from November 1, while in the US and UK, it will launch on November 3. Spain will follow on November 10.
More countries will be added at a later date, Netflix said.
How will ads work on Netflix?
There will be four to five minutes of ads per hour with the new plan, with commercials playing before and during shows and films. While newly released films will have limited advertising to preserve the cinematic experience, some movies and shows will not be initially available within the plan due to licensing restrictions.
"We are looking at a very light ad load and including some very tight frequency caps so that members don't see the same ad repeatedly," Peters said while unveiling details of Basic with Ads.
What's the difference between Basic with Ads and other existing plans?
Netflix said existing customers would not be affected and that all existing ad-free plans — Basic, Standard and Premium plans — will continue to be available.
Video quality for Basic with Ads will be 720p. Netflix said it was also bumping up the quality in its ad-free Basic plan to 720p, which was earlier limited to 480p.
Most shows and movies will be available as part of Basic with Ads with only few titles — about 5 to 10 per cent — missing at launch due to the licensing restrictions. And like existing plans, users will be able to stream Netflix on a variety of TV and mobile devices and have the option to change or cancel their plans at any time.
Other streaming services including Walt Disney Co's Hulu and Disney+ and Warner Bros Discovery's HBO Max already have, or plan to offer, ad-supported options that cost less. Those services charge between $8 and $10 per month for plans with commercials.
Netflix, known for hits such as Stranger Things and Squid Game, reported 220.7 million paying subscribers as of June, down nearly 1.2 million from the start of the year.
— Additional reporting by Reuters
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Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
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- Financial well-being incentives
The specs: 2018 Ford Mustang GT
Price, base / as tested: Dh204,750 / Dh241,500
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Gearbox: 10-speed automatic
Power: 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque: 569Nm @ 4,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.3L / 100km
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Federer's 11 Wimbledon finals
2003 Beat Mark Philippoussis
2004 Beat Andy Roddick
2005 Beat Andy Roddick
2006 Beat Rafael Nadal
2007 Beat Rafael Nadal
2008 Lost to Rafael Nadal
2009 Beat Andy Roddick
2012 Beat Andy Murray
2014 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2015 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2017 Beat Marin Cilic
THE%20SWIMMERS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESally%20El-Hosaini%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENathalie%20Issa%2C%20Manal%20Issa%2C%20Ahmed%20Malek%20and%20Ali%20Suliman%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Valencia v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Mallorca v Alaves (4pm)
Barcelona v Getafe (7pm)
Villarreal v Levante (9.30pm)
Sunday
Granada v Real Volladolid (midnight)
Sevilla v Espanyol (3pm)
Leganes v Real Betis (5pm)
Eibar v Real Sociedad (7pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Monday
Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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The biog
Year of birth: 1988
Place of birth: Baghdad
Education: PhD student and co-researcher at Greifswald University, Germany
Hobbies: Ping Pong, swimming, reading
Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Liev Schreiber, Ed Norton, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Scarlett Johansson
Three stars
More from Neighbourhood Watch
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
