Netflix subscribers in the United States and the United Kingdom woke up to a major update on the streaming site's Plans and Pricing page.
Android Authority reports that the company has officially removed the $10 Basic tier, leaving only three tiers available: Standard with Ads ($6.99), Standard ($15.49), and Premium ($19.99).
Existing subscribers on the Basic plan can breathe a sigh of relief as they are exempted from these changes and can continue to enjoy ad-free content at the same rate.
However, if they make any alterations to their subscription, they will no longer have access to this tier.
Reason Behind the Netflix Pricing Update
Industry experts note that this shift in pricing options suggests a deliberate effort on Netflix's part to steer its users towards the Standard with Ads plan.
Moreover, this move could be a strategic maneuver to increase revenues by either attracting more subscribers to the ad-included plans or prompting existing users to upgrade to the more expensive ad-free alternatives.
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A Closer Look at Updated Plans and Pricing
For new and rejoining members in the US and UK, the Basic plan is no longer a viable entry point to the streaming giant.
Instead, they must decide between the Standard with Ads plan, the Standard plan, or the Premium plan. The Standard with Ads plan offers a more affordable option, allowing users to stream on two devices in Full HD quality but with the inclusion of advertisements.
Users should expect to see around 4 minutes of ads per hour, ranging from 15 to 30 seconds each, and these ads cannot be skipped.
Opting for the Standard plan means a return to ad-free streaming at $15.49 per month, providing subscribers with two concurrent streams in Full HD quality.
This tier also allows users to download content for offline viewing on two devices and the flexibility to add an extra member to the account for a supplementary fee.
What This Means for Users
Until now, the Basic plan has satisfied users who sought an ad-free experience with HD streaming on a single device.
However, with its discontinuation, new members who prefer not to pay the additional cost for the Standard plan are now left with the Standard with Ads option, priced at $7 a month in the US and £5 in the UK.
This tier supports Full HD streaming on two devices simultaneously, but users must bear the interruption of ads during their viewing sessions.
In Other News
The first update to Meta's Threads app is now available, and it includes a slew of new features based on the company's most recent improvements, updates, and bug fixes.
Instagram software engineer Cameron Roth released a list of new app features, and since version 1.0, this current update delivers a great improvement to the various parts of Threads, such as translating posts for multiple languages, 'Following' upgrades, and more.
Stay posted here at Tech Times.
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