Netflix, once a pioneer of ad-free viewing that offered a break from traditional TV norms, is now contemplating launching free ad-supported versions of its service in markets like Europe and Asia, Bloomberg reported.

The plans to offer a free ad-supported tier, albeit in select markets, suggests that pivot towards monetizing user data, in other words — making users and not the extensive library of award-winning shows a product, might be well in the pipeline.

  • TheDarksteel94@sopuli.xyz
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    2 days ago

    For me, it depends on what they’re promoting. If it’s some crappy mobile game or crypto, I’m out. But I’m fine with the usual shit like energy drinks or VPNs. Like, those things usually have a serious business behind them, even if they might be useless for the vast majority of viewers.

    • Melvin_Ferd@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      If Netflix ads were just energy drinks and VPN then you’re cool with them adding these tiers?

      Honest to god question. How many hours a day are you OK being spent on being sold something. What is your ratio of content to ads.

      • TheDarksteel94@sopuli.xyz
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        2 days ago

        It’s a little different with Netflix, because of what they started out as. With Youtube, I expected to be advertised to from the beginning, you know? I pay for Youtube Premium and use Sponsor Block to support the creators I watch while having a mostly ad free experience. Also, I just trust most of the creators that I watch to have my best interest in mind in terms of what they advertise.

        But for Netflix, their whole thing from the beginning was that they were better TV. That’s how they sold it to me. Now they’re slowly losing their point. So I’d definitely not be alright with it if they started showing me ads on top of my subscription fee. Same with Prime Video, because I know they’re experimenting with that.

    • Iheartcheese@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Yep. I don’t hate youtubers for doing ads. Everyone needs to make money. Just skip the ads.

      Except for Ryan George because he actually makes his funny as fuck.